Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation said in Abuja on Friday that the decision by the All Progressives Congress not to participate in the presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria was simply to shield from Nigerians and the international audience its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.
Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, stated that the APC knew that Buhari would flunk it if he was subjected to the rigours of debate on issues of national governance and development.
It will be recalled that the Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a press statement on Thursday in Abuja that the Nigeria Election Debate Group-powered debate was fraught with fundamental errors from the outset, by wearing the toga of government control, especially being composed mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent PDP administration.
Shehu said, “A salutary inspection of the composition of NEGD brings into focus the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, National Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the Africa Independent Television (AIT, owned by a PDP chieftain).
“And going by the avalanche of inflammatory statements, misinformation and blatant lies being propagated by some of these media against our party and candidates contrary to the Koffi Annan-brokered Abuja Peace Accord, and the failure of these aggressors to desist and apologise, have left the APC Campaign with no option than to steer clear of any premeditated smear campaign that could be inimical to our prospective electoral success.”
The APCPCO spokesman further explained that the boycott by the APC should not be seen as disrespect to Nigerian voters, or an alibi for the party to dodge public scrutiny; but it must be viewed as an honourable right not to consent to any activity that could distract, demean, denigrate or derail the fast-moving train of the party.
“The APC is a party of progressive intellectuals, genuine technocrats, successful businessmen and women, and most of all, eminent and courteous people of honour who would never condescend to the level of sadistic gutter propaganda, all in the name of political exigency and crass opportunism,” Shehu said.
But Fani-Kayode said he was aware that the APC had already expressed its concerns, when approached by an international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of Buhari, and had assured the news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.
Let an independent and an unbiased body organise the debate and Not the NTA and AIT owned media houses.
ReplyDeleteReally, it would have been nice to hear from the presidential candidates, but the composition of the organisers is just not balanced. We suggest that government agents/parastatals should be excluded from this debate to give credibility to the exercise. Overall, the debate will not make much difference to most of us.
DeletePlease stop this cook and bull story. Nigerians deserve to hear from all the candidates before making up their minds. Not the lies both APC and PDP are given us. Nigeria needs a President that is balanced in all areas.
ReplyDeleteDo not be deceived. A debate will make no difference. The clear fact is that GEJ failed Nigeria in governance. Generators have replaced real power in Nigeria. GEJ confirmed that he has corrupt officers in his government but he could not do anything to stop them.
DeleteWhat value is a debate in a country where the President is incapable of tackling corruption in every areas?
Do you need a debate to tell you that there is too much corruption in Nigeria?
The same way Obasanjo was prevented from facing Falae.
ReplyDeleteGEJ whose PhD is rather from Goology than Zoology has shown that intellectualism is not governance intelligence. Else he would not need a single campaign to be re elected.
Daisi God o. Because on Fani waka come!
Gbenga!!!
Our zoology phd president had and has nothing to offer! PDP is desperate for Buhari to attend that debate because they have strong expo! And they have connived with dem AIT against Buhari on that day. The boycot is a very strategic and sensible decision to place PDP where they belong.... In the zoo, keep barking! Dogs!
ReplyDeleteNobody need a debate to know that GEJ has failed Nigeria. GEJ has a PhD and he keep telling stories of stopping terrorists in Nigeria. Yet, terrorism has continued unabated.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the Oil money GEJ also failed. There was oil boom but GEJ mismanaged and misused the huge surplus. Nigerians are still suffering.
Our oil is supposed to be a blessing for everybody in Nigeria. GEJ enriched himself and his friends.
GEJ and his party supporters are squandering our money for sewing new clothes for his party campaign every day. New sets of clothes every day.
Nigerians do not need a debate to know that GEJ has failed Nigeria - no good road, no light, no job, no water. What other debate do you need?
whatever the composition of the debate organizers, Buhari will be on stage to defend himself wont he? Then I think voters of the forth coming elections have the right to hear their aspirants clear all allegations leveled against them and also tell Nigerians how they intend to rule if elected or re-elected, or do we have a better means to hear them? Do we prefer the campaign rallies where only them speak to us and the crowd respond in their ignorance and cheap sell outs?
ReplyDeleteThis is the time to hear the truth and APC will back out cheaply? Something is got to be wrong.....
Buhari can not express himself very well and he cannot stand for more than 6 munites. So they are shielding him. See what happened in this morning with the meeting he had with organized private sector , where he was just talking rubbish and only the APC members sitting in front were the ones clapping, the difference is 100% clear. When he ( Buhari) was questioned how he was going to change the good things This present government is doing well like in agriculture employments, Transportation , he said the change will be a positive change, and you can see disappointment in the people's faces it was only the APC members sitting in front were clapping. In short if APC had known they wouldn't have organized this . I think they used it to test water Copy cat
ReplyDelete