In a recent interview shared by the Official YouTube channel of Arise TV on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Research Professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Femi Otubanjo, argued that Nigeria’s leadership challenges cannot be solved simply by debating how long a president should remain in office. He spoke while commenting on discussions surrounding an alleged one-term agreement between the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to Otubanjo, “Whether somebody spent four years or ten years, if the substructure is bad, nothing will change.” He explained that Nigeria’s governance crisis is rooted in weak institutions, poor leadership, corruption, and flawed electoral processes rather than the length of time a president remains in office.
The professor maintained that strengthening the country’s democratic foundation should take priority over debates about power rotation or one-term agreements. He argued that credible leadership, transparency, accountability, and stronger institutions are essential for sustainable national development.
Otubanjo further noted that political reforms focusing only on tenure without addressing the underlying governance problems would fail to deliver meaningful results. In his view, Nigerians should concentrate on building a system that rewards integrity, competence, and responsible leadership.
He added that fixing the nation’s political foundation would create an environment where elections truly reflect the will of the people and public officials are held accountable. He urged both citizens and political leaders to focus on rebuilding Nigeria’s democratic institutions, insisting that lasting progress depends more on the quality of governance than on the number of years elected officials remain in office…..See More
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