But, why are they avoiding
debates….??? Na wao!!!
Those days in school, we were
taught that one of the ways of deepening our democracy is by engaging in robust
deliberations in order to chart a genuine course for national development. If am
not mistaken, one of the ways of championing this robust deliberation is through
debates and intellectual discussions.
It’s very obvious that both the
PDP and APC have many ‘never-say-die’ supporters across the country, however,
so many Nigerians are yet to decide among the two Presidential candidates. GEJ
& GMB.
This simple reason underscores
the importance of the various debates organized by various media platforms. I personally
do not understand why APC Presidential candidates Gen M. Buhari should be
shying away from this great opportunity to school us on how he intends to advance
the much needed change.
According to news report by
Premium Times, the PDP has again criticized following his alleged refusal to
participate in another Presidential debate put in place by another media
organization
Premium Times reports…
The Peoples Democratic Party
Presidential Campaign Organisation, has condemned the refusal of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to
participate in live television debates with President Goodluck Jonathan, saying
the decision shows contempt for Nigerians.
The campaign organisation, in a
statement by its spokesperson, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the decision by Mr.
Buhari to shun another debate organised by the Newspaper Proprietors
Association of Nigeria, NPAN, and Channels Television was despicable, and
called on Nigerians to ensure the rejection of the APC candidate at the poll as
a just recompense for his action.
According to the PDP campaign
group, “We have been informed that General Buhari and the APC have decided not
to participate in the NPAN-CHANNELS Television-organised debate after they had
earlier agreed to take part in it.
“We had thought that having
withdrawn from participating in the debate organised by Broadcasting
Organisation of Nigeria (BON), they would have availed themselves this second
platform.
“Now that they have also turned
their back on this, it is now very clear that General Buhari is incapable of
engaging in rigorous live television debates on the issues of governance. It
speaks about his intellectual laziness and his loss of touch with contemporary
issues of development and statecraft.
“We would like to reiterate that
the APC has something to shield about General Buhari. He has campaigned in some
states of the federation attacking President Jonathan’s handling of insurgency,
corruption and economy. Now there is a platform on which both candidates can
engage each other on these issues and he (Buhari) is running away.
“It is a disgrace to the APC and
their candidate that they would treat everybody with contempt. The organisers
of the debates are interested in promoting a robust culture of debates so that
people can listen to the candidates and make informed choices on the basis of
their arguments.
“We call on Nigerians to express
their displeasure with General Buhari and the APC by rejecting them at the
poll. This will be a just recompense for treating the Nigerian people and
electorate with disdain.”
Source: Premium Times
0 comments:
Post a Comment