By Dwelleth Morountodun
Nigerians from different parts of the world who looked eagerly to the much touted presidential debate on Saturday were highly disappointed as both President Muhammadu Buhari,
the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the forthcoming elections in February election for turning down opportunity to showcase their manifestoes to the people.
Their absence on Saturday in the organized presidential debate created room for Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu and Fela Durutoye at the floor of the contest all adjudged to have done creditably well.
In an earlier organized debate held on Wednesday at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Buhari’s performance according to several trending online and social media report was an embarrassment and disappointed as the Vice came to his rescue on many occasions. Nigerians have become so critical at the inarticulation of the president at the outing, which many say was a disastrous showing.
SHARPEDGENews, presents the statements of both candidates why they could not attend the much expected debate.
Keyamo: Commissioning of Baro Inland Water Port was Why Buhari Could Not Attend Debate
Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, the campaign mouthpiece the president attributed the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme as the reason why couldn’t show up at the debate.
Keyamo, while putting up defence for President Buhari said: Buhari, could not attend the Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria which held today, Saturday, January 19, 2019 for the following reasons:
Firstly, out of several opportunities afforded our candidate to interact with the Nigerian people directly by different organisations, our presidential candidate has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organized by another group which held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
He was also joined at that town-hall meeting by our Vice-Presidential candidate who is also the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Nigerians from all walks of life who were physically present and through on-line platforms asked uncensored questions which were adequately answered. It was also transmitted live by various broadcast networks in Nigeria.
In addition, the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme. Today, Mr. President commissioned the Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State and campaigned in Niger and Plateau States where his time was over-stretched by the tumultuous and mammoth crowds in both States, (as seen by Nigerians on live television) and only returned to Abuja late this evening.
Whilst we thank the organisers for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem which our candidate has demonstrated during past election debates when he honoured similar invitations. Nigerians will also recall that a few weeks ago, our Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also attended the debate organized by the same organisations.
Lastly, we note the statement of the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who actually came for the event and left the venue when he did not see Mr. President, who is our candidate. According to him, he would not want to “attack” Mr. President in his absence.
It should now be obvious to Nigerians that for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, this election is all about attacking the person and programmes of Mr. President and not about proffering their own solutions to the problems they created during their sixteen years of misrule, maladministration and looting of the nation’s resources. When they cannot see President Buhari to attack, the content of their campaign becomes hollow, empty and “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Now that Atiku Abubakar had a unique opportunity to explain to Nigerians his own vision and mission without a President Buhari in the picture, he ran away. Afterall, he has his own eight years of crass and grand corruption as Vice President to defend before the Nigerian people.
Atiku: I Don’t Want to Shave Buhari’s Hair in His Absence
We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies.
After all you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is not here to defend himself. As a leader and former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the APC Presidential Candidate’s absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.
Secondly, with all due respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu and to the moderator Mark Sugar and with apologies to all Nigerians here and at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret that I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.
I however challenge President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well.