Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator for the Obidient Movement Worldwide, announced on Tuesday that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has presented his single tenure proposal to the opposition coalition for evaluation.
Tanko made this statement during a ceremony where Obi was honored with the chieftaincy title of ‘Sarki Maskan’ (War Hero) in recognition of his dedicated service to the Pantami community in Gombe.
In addition, Tanko, who previously served as Obi’s media aide, received the title of ‘Dan Maje Babba Pantanmi’ along with a commendation letter from the District Head of Pantami Palace, Mai Martaba Abdullahi.
In an interview with PUNCH Online following the event, Tanko expressed confidence that the current coalition would support Obi’s vision for a four-year term. He confirmed that Obi’s proposal for a single four-year tenure has been officially submitted to the opposition coalition, which includes prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Senate President David Mark for review.
“We have presented it to the coalition. It is there for them to make a decision. But we are confident it can work. This is a pronouncement rooted in integrity, and Peter Obi embodies that. What Nigeria needs now are leaders with integrity,” he said.
According to Tanko, Obi does not require more than four years to transform the country and rescue its economy from collapse.
“Obi has said clearly—even though the single term is not in the constitution—that he is committing himself to serve only one tenure. He believes four years is more than enough to accomplish his mission. That shows you how prepared and focused he is.
“Even stabilising electricity alone will solve a multitude of problems. He is promising that under his leadership, Nigeria will become an exporting country again. Planes will no longer leave our airports empty,” Tanko stated.
Tanko, a former presidential candidate himself, also explained why Obi chose to accept the traditional title from the Pantami community after decades of turning down similar honours.
“Obi is not a man who chases titles. But this one is special. It comes from a northern community recognising an Igbo man for his generosity and impact. It speaks volumes about Obi’s growing national acceptance, especially in the North, where he was less favoured during the 2023 elections,” he said.
He added that Obi’s humanitarian efforts in northern Nigeria—particularly in underserved communities—have begun to shift public perception in the region.
“His Excellency has visited places without potable water and funded borehole projects. In Pantami today, there is clean water not just for people but even for animals. Locals now say, ‘Go fetch me water from Peter Obi’s borehole.’ That tells you something has changed.
“He also supports entrepreneurship among northern youths and visits Almajiri schools, even helping to build toilets where there were none. These gestures have earned him deep grassroots support”, he added.
Tanko concluded that the recognition from Pantami was a “testament to the bridge-building legacy” of Peter Obi and an indicator that the political tide may be shifting ahead of 2027.
