Buhari, Ribadu, Shekarau opt out of presidential debate    

March 25, 2011

The presidentialcandidates of the Congress for Progressive Change, Muhammadu Buhari andhis counterparts in the Action Congress of Nigeria and the All NigeriaPeoples Party, Nuhu Ribadu and Ibrahim Shekarau respectively havepulled out of the proposed debate organised for presidential and vicepresidential candidates in the April election, by the Nigerian ElectionDebate Group.

The debate is scheduled for three days of next week – March 28, 29 and 30.

The spokespersonsof the candidates announced their principals’ withdrawal from thedebate in a joint statement issued in Abuja on Thursday. Those whosigned the statement are Ibrahim Modibbo of Nuhu Ribadu CampaignOrganisation, Yinka Odumakin of Buhari Campaign Organisation and YauSule Yau of Shekarau for Nigeria Campaign Organisation.

“We are highlysuspicious of the celebrated romance with the BON debate by thepresident Jonathan’s camp, which shunned the NN24 debate without anapology,” the statement said.

“We can only hazardthat since most of the agencies organizing the BON debate aregovernment parastatals, the organisers may not be in a position toresist the request for advance questions being given to the debates inwhich the NN24 agreed with us because they were independent. This doesnot mean that the men and women running these agencies lack integritybut the awesome power of the presidency may be too much for them.”

“Like millions ofother Nigerians, we consider this behaviour of the president asegotistical, condescending and unbecoming of a man seeking a mandate togovern Nigeria. Leadership entails humility and respect for others”.

“Consequently, westate without ambiguity that our principals will not honour any debatesession with President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections, as hehas arrogantly shunned the credible debate for which we made ourselvesavailable. Future presidents of Nigeria will have to be more careful indealing with the feelings of others.”

The spokesmen ofthe three candidates cited the participation of Doyin Okupe, a memberof the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation at the meetings of theorganisers of the debate.

They alleged that it was Mr Okupe who influenced the change of the date of the debate earlier agreed on.

They said theyaccepted the adjustment in the date of the event, not because the newdate was convenient for their principals, but because they wanted tomake a sacrifice which will afford voters the opportunity to assess andjudge the candidates’ programmes and personalities.

Upbeat debate organisers

Abba Dabo, directorof media and publicity of the Jonathan Campaign team, could not bereached for reaction. Mr Dabo ignored repeated telephone calls and textmessage from our correspondent yesterday.

But the chairman ofthe NEDG, Taiwo Alimi told NEXT in a telephone interview yesterday thatthe body was not aware of the withdrawal of Messrs Buhari, Ribadu andShekarau.

“We are not awareof it,” Mr Alimi said. “We have been communicating, but they have notwritten us to say they are withdrawing. In any case, we invited abouteight candidates and three are saying they are withdrawing, that meansthey are in minority.”

According to theprogramme, Mr Jonathan is expected to face Messrs Ribadu, Shekarau andBuhari on the last day of the presidential debate that will hold at theCongress hall of Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.