Single-Term Talk Is a Distraction, Focus on Solving Nigeria’s Problems – Falana Tells Politicians

Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has dismissed the ongoing political debate over a single four-year presidential term as a diversion from the critical issues currently facing Nigerians.

Falana made this assertion on Monday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he criticized political figures, including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for pushing the single-term narrative instead of addressing pressing national challenges.

“I’m not going to join the campaign for power shift or whether power should remain in one part of the country for four years or eight years. No, that’s diversionary,” Falana stated.

He emphasized that the conversation should not be about zoning or tenure reduction, but about tackling Nigeria’s growing insecurity, widespread hunger, poor electricity supply, and other socioeconomic crises.

Falana’s remarks come amid renewed calls by some political leaders for a constitutional amendment to limit the presidency to a single term of four years. Peter Obi recently declared his willingness to serve only one term if elected in 2027, arguing it would complete the North-South eight-year power rotation.

However, Falana maintained that such debates are mere distractions from real governance failures, and urged political actors to redirect their energy towards policies that directly impact the lives of ordinary citizens.

He warned that while politicians fixate on tenure politics, millions of Nigerians continue to suffer from poverty, food insecurity, inflation, and a deteriorating quality of life.