Sunday 8 March 2015
On 00:16 by Nations Connect No comments
Article Written by President Jonathan's Spokesman, Reuben Abati. Read below...
The last time Nigerians enjoyed something really close to an exciting Presidential debate was during the 1993 Presidential elections. I recall the colourful and memorable encounter between the late Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. At the end of that debate, it was clear who among the duo was better experienced, much more intellectually capable and more endearing to the electorate in terms of readiness for the job being applied for. That is what a debate, under these circumstances, is: it is a job interview.
The entire country is the panel and whereas
actual measurement of impact may be tentative, especially in a developing country
where there are challenges of illiteracy and access to mass media, the
performance of the candidates ordinarily reshapes the conversation and can
significantly influence voters’ choice. Unfortunately, in the lead up to this
year’s Presidential elections, it seems certain that voters will be denied this
opportunity for comparison, assessment, interaction, not to talk of the
excitement and drama.
The man to blame for this denial is General
Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress
(APC). Getting him to debate the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
has been an uphill task. To say that the man is scared, practically
running away from an opportunity to debate his ideas against the incumbent’s,
is to be charitable. He doesn’t want it. Every effort to get him to the
podium has been rebuffed by him and his handlers.
President Jonathan received, ahead of the INEC
rescheduling of the dates for the 2015 elections, two requests for a Presidential
debate. The President enthusiastically accepted and looked forward to both
debates. But General Buhari was not interested. There is no gainsaying the fact
that President Jonathan and General Buhari are the main contenders in this
election. Every Nigerian would love to see the two of them debate. That would
be good for our democracy.
One of Buhari’s spokesmen later announced that
he was pulling out of that particular debate because the organisers had been “compromised” by
government and the integrity of the debate platform they were offering was
therefore doubtful! Questions: The same media houses that grant APC disproportionate amount
of attention, and which they patronize to push their propaganda? And who are
the media managers on the APC side questioning the integrity of their old-time
comrades, and one-time fellow hunters just so they could be seen to be
committed? I leave these posers to the well-known parties involved to sort out
among themselves, as they surely will when all of this is over.
It is worrisome that any Presidential candidate
will shy away from a debate out of timidity and fear of inadequacy. And yet a
President’s work is one of perpetual debate. He will have to chair meetings,
where ideas will be expressed and he must understand what works and may not. He
will attend international meetings where he is expected to contribute to
discussions, often in the format of a debate. Without that ability to
assimilate, process and discuss ideas, nobody should be trusted with even the
management of a local council not to talk of the whole of Nigeria. A
debate also provides a candidate at this level, an opportunity to communicate
his vision of leadership, and to explain to the electorate in his own voice,
why he deserves their vote.
General Buhari needs to come out of his comfort
zone and undertake this test. He has been campaigning on the issues of security
yet his supporters preach hate and violence. He talks about the economy yet he
couldn’t at a town hall meeting differentiate between the excess crude account
and the foreign reserve. He projects himself as an anti-corruption angel yet he
is surrounded by a large crowd of morally conflicted persons; to worsen it all,
he doesn’t even know the name of his own running mate. When he grants
interviews, his responses are cryptic and elliptic, demonstrating such
shallowness that confuses an informed audience.
Abati is President Jonathan’s Official Spokesman
and Media Adviser.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Search
Popular Posts
-
National Enquirer claim they got photos from the night Bobbi Kristina was found face down in her bathtub but out of respec...
-
A male Boko Haram member who disguised as a woman was apprehended in Yola, Adamawa state this afternoon. After interrogation and...
-
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has announced the 2015 cutoff marks for both University and Polytechnic/Co...
-
Ex-Falcon Star, Chichi Igbo aka Chified was involved in a Car Crash Yesterday, 8th January. She explains what happened after ...
-
Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga pictured above in the middle as she worked with her staff t...
-
Left is AVM Morgan Monday - Chief of Defence Intelligence and right is Maj Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin - Chief of Defence St...
-
Wizkid's 3year-old son, Boluwatife and Wizkid's Babymama were spotted at a wedding yesterday, and the young boy was rocking al...
-
This evening Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce offered to donate his wardrobe allowance to Osun state workers who have not been paid ...
-
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano who is an APGA Party member paid a congratulatory visit to President elect, General Buhari in Abuj...
-
Former interim national chairman of APC and former governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande, has once again attacked Sen...
Recent Posts
Sample Text
Blog Archive
-
▼
2015
(1810)
-
▼
March
(393)
- Buhari campaign group call for the arrest of Femi ...
- Read Prof. Jega's epic rRsponse to Orubebe this Mo...
- Chude Jideonwo Says GEJ Has Called Buhari to Congr...
- Asari Dokubo Denies tweet Being Circulated Claimin...
- Atiku Abubakar Gen. Buhari On His Victory (READ ...
- Photos: Dangote, Abdulsalam, Tambuwal, Others With...
- Photos Of Pres. Jonathan Watching the Election Col...
- LIB Congratulates Nigeria's President-Elect, Gen B...
- Statement By President Jonathan On Presidential El...
- 'You Are Celebrating Because GEJ Allowed Freedom B...
- Aliko Dangote Before And After the Election Result...
- Obasanjo congratulates Buhari, Asks Him to Be Magn...
- Photo: PDP Agent Refuses to Sign the Presidential ...
- Final Results Of the 2015 Presidential Elecion (RE...
- Prof. Jega Officially Declares Buhari Winner Of th...
- The PDP party agent at the Collation center in A...
- Photos: Buhari Kisses His Wife Passionately to Cel...
- Presidential Election Results So Far - APC Now Lea...
- Photos From the Mass Protest that took Place In Ak...
- US, UK Govt Release Joint Statement. Say there Are...
- Photos: Women In Rivers State Protest Saturday's E...
- Photos: President Obama Almost Falls Down Steps Of...
- Graphic Pic Of the Man Stabbed to Death By Lover I...
- Buhari Wins In Jigawa And Kogi States (SEE BELOW)
- JUST IN!! Buhari Wins Kogi With 60% Votes – Punch ...
- Looking to Ignite the Spark In Your Relationship? ...
- Very Funny:- Everybody Is Busy Talking Election Bu...
- How Can I tell If I Weigh too Much? Get Free Weigh...
- Dencia Stuns In Her Outfit to the iHeart Radio Mus...
- Senator Bukola Saraki Returns to Senate (SEE BELOW)
- Photo Of the Female INEC Staff Who Died In Bike Ac...
- Photos From the Accident In Abuja this Morning (...
- Wife Stabs Husband to Death Over APC,PDP President...
- Card Reader Failure At GEJ's Polling Unit A Nation...
- Graphic Photos: INEC Officials Killed By Unknown G...
- Breaking: INEC National Collation Center Seal...
- Breaking: INEC National Collation Center Sealed Of...
- INEC Warns Against Announcement Of Results, Says I...
- FFK Slams Reports that GEJ Lost In His LGA, Says P...
- Election Result In Abuja So Far: APC Polls 10,853,...
- Election result in Abuja so far: APC polls 10,853...
- Gen. Buhari Wins in Ogun State (READ BELOW)
- Election Result In Abuja So Far: APC Polls 10,853,...
- No Restriction Of Movement today - IG Of Police (R...
- INEC Chairman Discredits Fani-Kayode's Claims Of P...
- Photos: Angelina Jolie's Daughters Jubilate As She...
- Pres. Jonathan, Buhari Call For Patience As INEC C...
- Katsina State Police Commissioner Dies (READ BELOW)
- Fani-Kayode Says Disregared Election Results Flyin...
- INEC Releases Presidential Results From 10 LGs In ...
- Piers Morgans Writes About Germanwings Co-Pilot &...
- Photo: Card Reader Failure Reported At Some Pollin...
- Pics: Rivers State Residents take to the Streets t...
- Photo: Governor Fashola And Wife On Queue to Get A...
- Shehu Shagari And Atiku Abubakar At their Polling ...
- Photos: Ghastly Accident In Akwa Ibom this Morning...
- Photos: Internally Displaced People At Polling Uni...
- Photos: INEC Website Hacked (READ BELOW)
- Photo: Obasanjo Gets Accredited (SEE BELOW)
- Read the National Broadcast By Pres. Jonathan On t...
- Photos: INEC Begins Distribution Of Electoral Mate...
- World Oral Health Day 2015: Super Dentists Rap Kid...
- Photo: Angry Passengers Sit On tarmac In Abuja (...
- Gov. Amaechi Stage Managed His Gun Attack - Rivers...
- Photos: Pres Jonathan Arrives Bayelsa Ahead Of tom...
- Photos: Trailer Carrying Political Bags Of Rice Ha...
- Photo: Father And Son Arraigned For $4,256 Intern...
- Man Cuts Open Giant Snake's Belly & You Won't Beli...
- Niger Delta Man, Pa Rewane Supported Awolowo's Edu...
- EFCC Denies Freezing Father Mbaka's Accounts (READ...
- Nigerian Young Professionals Support Families Of N...
- Photos: Davido And Crew Fly Private Jet to Kenya ...
- Photos: See How Badly A Man Beat His Wife In Ajah,...
- Pope Sends Offering to Nigerian Families Affected ...
- Terrorists Killed As troops Recapture Gwoza, BH HQ...
- Photos: Woman Beats teacher In Front Of Her Studen...
- More Photos Of GEJ & Buhari At the Peace Accord Si...
- Photos: Truck Crashes Into Shops In Ikorodu (SEE B...
- Joint Press Release By Former Ekiti State Governor...
- Photos: Policemen Allegedly Assault Young Man Retu...
- How To Beat Your Wife - By Charly Boy (READ BELOW)
- Not Again! Federal High Court In Abuja Is Currentl...
- Ascon Oil Company Releases Statement On the Lekki ...
- Waooo!!! : See the Campaign 'Helicopter' Spotted ...
- Hussaini tells Us How Cattle Rearing & 5 Other Rea...
- Graphic Pics: 5 Kidnappers Killed In Anambra State...
- Graphic Photos From today's Bank Robbery In Owo, O...
- If Buhari Wins, APC Will Jail Me - Patience Jonath...
- Gunmen Reportedly Fire At Governor Rotimi Amaechi'...
- Buhari ought to Be In Jail - Asari Dokubo (READ B...
- President Jonathan Writes Letter to Key Northern C...
- Al Jazeera Demands the Release Of their two Nigeri...
- Photo: Crisis Reported In Oshodi (SEE BELOW)
- Photos: Soldiers Also Ipotted in Nnewi, Anambra th...
- SAD : Murdered STV Staff Aishat Mustapha Laid to R...
- One Of the Pilots Of Doomed Germanwings Flight Was...
- Mrs Jonathan In Control Of the Police In Rivers St...
- Stop Pnsulting the Military - IBB tells pro-Jonath...
- Photos: Pres. Jonathan & Buhari Hug As they Sign P...
- Photos: Soldiers Sighted In Different Parts Of Lag...
-
▼
March
(393)
More Links
About Us
Spice Mag - Premium free blogger template developed by spicytricks.com.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas hendrerit iaculis nunc. Curabitur in eros ipsum. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Duis at mi justo, non suscipit elit. Nunc aliquam luctus adipiscing. Nullam sit amet lacus vitae odio congue mollis eu non magna. Duis sed arcu a libero adipiscing rhoncus. Aliquam erat volutpat. Suspendisse sed nunc metus, sed aliquet arcu.
Text Widget
Powered by Blogger.
0 comments:
Post a Comment