Incumbent president and All Progressives Congress, (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and his main rival, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP),.Alhaji Atiku Abubakar shunned the much publicised debate held yesterday at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The PDP presidential candidate who flew into the country from the United States had given hint that he would not partook in the event in the absence of President Muhammadu.
Tribune Online checks revealed that the former vice-president was actually at the venue of the programme but took his exit when there was no signal that President Buhari would appear.
Those who showed up for the debates were candidates of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Oby Ezekwesili; Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye; and the Young Progressives Party, Kingsley Moghalu.
Atiku’s presence was confirmed by the moderator of the programme, Mark Sugar, who told the gathering
that “the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar came, he was in the hall but decided not to appear.”
In a press statement released last night, the PDP presidential candidate said he took the decision not to participate in the debate having been convinced that the APC candidate was nowhere near the venue of the important programme.
In the statement he personally signed titled, “Why I didn’t participate in the presidential debate, ” the former vice -president declared premised his action on the absence of President Buhari.
Alhaji Abubakar further noted that the programme was not only meant for the presidential candidates to tell Nigerians their blueprint, but more importantly, interrogate, the policies of the present administration
His statement read in part: ” We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar can not 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 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.
“Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Also, spokesperson of the Buhari presidential campaign organisation, Festus Keyamo, (SAN) however justified the absence of his principal at the event.
In a statement last night, Keyamo claimed that the timing of the programme which has been fixed for over a month clashed with the campaign schedules of President Buhari. He also declared that President Buhari has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organized by another group which held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
Keyamo’s statement read in part: “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the APC Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election, President Muhammadu 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.”
Speaking during the debate, candidate of the Young Progressives Party, (YPP), Professor Moghalu said Nigeria must get its politics right before fixing the economy.
He said: ” Let us first understand that we can’t fix the economy, if we don’t fix our politics. Our economy can never grow for as long as we are led by the incumbent incompetent, visionless recycled and arrogant old politicians that have run this country economy into the ground, seeking another four years of poverty for us.
So, let us first understand that the path for fixing Nigeria economy will depend on who becomes president in 2019. The first order of business is to elect a president who understands how to manage economy.
My government will fix the econony by taking the approach that i will just spell out very quickly. The problem that we need to solve is that we don’t have an economic philosophy. We will have to decide, whether we are a capitalist country or socialist country or if we are for capitalism, what type of capitalism we are practising.”
Moghalu promised to reform the educational system, ensure that our young people have skills that can make them competitive in the 21st century and the skills that can give them jobs or help them create their own jobs.”
Candidate of the ANN, Fela Durotoye said his target would be to develop the most three important sectors which he listed as agriculture, housing construction, and road construction.
He noted that “60 percent of Nigeria labour force are engaged in agriculture but yet only 35 percent of our arable land is being used. We must drive aggressively, land use for agriculture to 50 percent and that will create for us, about 30 million people altogether into the labour force. ”
Durotoye promised to “reduce cost of governance, reform civil service institutions to ensure that they deliver, create job and reorientate our people that paying taxes isn’t just an obligation but just to ensure that government continues to function and deliver.
Former Education Minister and presidential candidate of ACPN, Oby Ezekwesili, said her plan was”to lift at least 80 million Nigerians out of poverty. The way that we plan to do this is that when you look at Nigerians who are poor, it is very clear that they are poor because they earn below N700 per day. What therefore needs to happen is that over 60 percent of them would need to improve their productivity. When people have higher productivity, they earn more. When they earn more, they lift themselves out of poverty.”
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NO TO DANGEROUS THIEVES!!!
Atiku’s company had been stealing from Nigeria. Only recently, the company; Intels , paid over #13billion naira to the Federal government, as the money it had withheld for some years. That’s how economically good Atiku is.
Adeosun recently removed the names of over 45,000 ghost workers which included the names of workers in Obasanjo farms, from the payrolls of the federal government and that is why the enemies of the poor masses, dug into her records. She did what even Ngozi Okonjo Iweala could not do.
Oyedepo was importing things into Nigeria without paying duties and taxes. He was parking his private jets in our airports for free. Buhari stopped the fraud against Nigeria and that is why Oyedepo has been preaching and praying against Buhari.
If the killings in Nigeria was not sponsored by politicians, why is it that since some decamping occurred in Abuja, the killings have stopped?
Theophilus Danjuma is the owner of the company that Jonathan was using to bring in arms for the fight against Boko Haram. Bogus figures and unverifiable payments forced Buhari to terminate the contract. That’s why Danjuma called for crisis.
How did Ayo Oritsejafor get his private jet? How many companies does he have?
Who also are the real owners of Arik Air and Air Peace? Will Nigerians do proper findings on this?
How about the $16 billion dollars for electricity? Atiku and Obasanjo couldn’t tell Nigerians where the money was sank into.
Jonathan and his regime defrauded and killed Nigerian youths, when they asked us to pay for immigration jobs that was never available and we lost some of tomorrow’s leaders in the process.
Obasanjo and Atiku had earlier killed more, when they unbundled parastatals like NEPA, NITEL, Nigerian Airways etc they refused to pay their severance benefits, gratuities and pensions. Many died of starvation and gross poverty.
Whether or not they like it, GOD will judge the wicked.
Campaign or no campaign, God own victory.
baba go slow u dey fear debate……
ATIKU: ON WHY HE LEFT THE DEBATE VENUE WHEN BUHARI FAILED TO TURN UP.
“We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate
“I regret that I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.
“We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate , and I, Atiku Abubakar can not 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 the APC Presidential Candidates 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.
Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. – Atiku Abubakar. – @Hope For Nigeria.
Nothing gaining frm debating with thief.
Let us fix another date for them
Campaign kill you there.. ???
How I wish the presidential debate would made mandatory for all candidates seeking the highest office in the land. It should be part of the new electoral law. It should be seen as a good thing.
Atiku u r a real failure this was an avenue for u to speak for urself but u just lost ur popularity!!!
Mumu, and u wil fail and cry alone without buhari. Nxtlevel jor
Shi sa’anka ne..? Ko hada kanka kakeyi dashi…
Foolish man no brain. Why not tell Nigerians what you can do like other candidates .dummy brain. Only to sell our national assets to enrich his friends that is what you have in your head. Ole
Since you can’t do without buhari then follow him to the nextlevel….4+4=2023
Me: biafra dont vote Atiku again, because he didnt debate. Vote Ezekwsili who left her husband to debte. Nxtlevel loadin…
Hon Parry Osayande
Listen!
You should be more concerned that an idiot who has been in charge of the country for four years and who says he wants another term habitually refuses to take part in presidential debates…
Let Atiku be on this matter
Listen!
You should be more concerned that an idiot who has been in charge of the country for four years and who says he wants another term habitually refuses to take part in presidential debates…
Let Atiku be on this matter
?????? baba ya tsorata ya kizuwa
Karim Kerry
Listen!
You should be more concerned that an idiot who has been in charge of the country for four years and who says he wants another term habitually refuses to take part in presidential debates…
Let Atiku be on this matter
The fear of the young men and the man’s head woman
Oyew ole, Na ur papa bi idiot. who u can’t even present to Nigerians for even a L.G chairman. Bring ur father to debate wit Atiku.
I’m happy today because of what God have don in my life through Doctor who help me with harb medicine am now hepatitis B negative my good friends if you have it don’t keep it u can call him or added him on whatsapp 09066271354
Una think say Buhari na mumu?
Even if na Amina Zakari go be the moderator,I no go do.
A child stung by the bee flee on sighting a fly
.
if Kadirat,a Hausa Muslim girl will look at my face and be telling Oshibanjo to shut up that the question is not for you”
imagine what mark sugar wey no be Hausa Muslim will do me?
When the destroyers old leaders BUHARI AND ATIKI has used their hands and simply announced their exist from the government by being absent in this debate. That’s is a prove, a new day has come to Nigeria. We are taking back our right. Now the woman in Obiageli Ezekwesili has summarized this debate for today. I the youth of Nigeria says NO to old ancestors leaders without visions.
Atiku has lost the only opportunity he has to make impact because of bad advisers.
You don’t need to reply a tout, only his grammar has shown the type of tout he is
Tout begin with Nnama kanu the run away terrorist.
Some “mumu” here did’nt know full meaning of debate.
Atiku did the right thing by not attending the debate as well. This debate is meant for APC and PDP bcos they are the two major political parties we have… If one of the major candidate fail to attend then there is no reason for the 2nd be present too, u dont expect Atiku to be there. Buhari should learn to show good leadership qualities by examples. You guys Instead of u to ask Buhari the reason why he is afraid to attend the debate u are here blaming Atiku for Buhari sins. Hmmm see Nigerians, with all these sentiments, how then do u expect this country to move forward.
Bye bye
who did not fail
Atiku did the right thing by not attending the debate as well. This debate is meant for APC and PDP bcos they are the two major political parties we have… If one of the major candidate fail to attend then there is no good reason for the 2nd candidate to be present, so u dont expect Atiku to be there too. Buhari should learn how to show good quality leadership by examples. You guys Instead of u to ask Buhari the reason why he is afraid to attend the debate u are here blaming Atiku for Buhari sins. Hmmm see Nigerians, with all these sentiments, how then can u expect this country to move forward.
APC is very smart, d moderators might have been heavily bribed to ask some mockery questions to atiku, becos he is d main opposition. The apc don’t want to gamble by making Buhari appear base on the last interview he attended few days back so the best way is to turn the mockery to atiku. Politics is games. U have to be smart to be able to smell the foul plays..Atiku decision was the best @ dat moment.
Sometimes i do wonder if thoes supporting buhari
have their brains on their buttoks rather on their
heads!
1999 Olufalae showed up for debate PDP candidate OBJ, sure of victory, didn’t come PDP won 2003 #Buhari showed up for debate PDP candidate OBJ, sure of victory, didn’t come PDP won 2007 #Buhari showed up for debate PDP Y’Adua,sure of victory, didn’t come PDP won 2011 #Buhari Showed up for debate PDP Jonathan, sure of victory, didn’t come PDP won 2015 #Buhari, sure of victory PDP ,Facing defeat, begging for debate Buhari didn’t come APC won 2019 #Buhari, sure of victory PDP , facing defeat, begging for debate Buhari didn’t come APC will win Buhari has participated in presidential debates for THREE consecutive election seasons. PDP has NEVER participated in any presidential debate before. Who is afraid of debates? Buhari lost elections despite participating in debates THREE times. Debate doesn’t determine voting outcome in Nigeria of today and that is why the PDP has NEVER participated in any and still won elections. That’s why Buhari won when He stopped participating in it. Buhari has used his participation in three debates to discover Nigerian electorates are not moved by debates, they are moved by Popularity of the candidates among them. Buhari has therefore worked on his popularity and again coasting home to victory next month. Let the PDP also do debates for three political seasons to discover what moves Nigerian electorates. Unfortunately, they have lost it this year. They need the next 16 years to get opportunity for another three debates since they have failed to learn from Buhari’s experience. In other words, PMB is 16 years ahead of them in the knowledge of the political reality of Nigeria today.