Ime Akpan
The boycott of the presidential debate by President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Atiku Abubakar who are presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) respectively has not gone down well with many a Nigerian.
The debate which held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Saturday, January 19, was organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON)
Candidates shortlisted for the debate alongside Buhari and Atiku included Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mr. Oby Ezekwesili; Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Mr. Fela Durotoye and Young Progressives Party (YPP), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu.
Atiku boycotted the debate saying he could not take part in it in the absence of the APC presidential candidate.
But Buhari, according to his campaign office stayed away from the debate because he had taken part in a similar programme organised by Deria Media in conjunction with the NTA and aired last Wednesday.
The campaign office also explained that the president could not attend the Saturday debate due to his engagement in Niger State where he commissioned the Baro Inland Water Port in the state and campaigned in the state and Plateau State “where his time was over-stretched.”
The exercise went on with Ezekwesili, Durotoye and Moghalu participating.
Nevertheless, Nigerians have expressed their diverse opinions on the boycott via twitter and in interviews.
Una dey call am Tif man,una don dey brag say if the man come back una go catcham, the man come back run to debate & una no show face; Him ma as he enter debate room, open curtain & see three debaters with handcuffs, he just take style do Michael Jackson back slide and pick race.
It’s unfortunate and ironic that candidates who flaunt crowds of supporters in hundreds of thousands in open stadiums, have fear of a microphone and a few people in a Hall.
The ruling party is telling the people to look at thieves on the rostrum and the people are telling the ruling party to look at corpses on the ground.
Senator Shehu Sani @ShehuSani
@Atiku flew for 12 hours after a gruelling but rewarding trip to the US. He arrived the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton only to find that @MBuhari wasn’t there. He is there physically and ready to take part in #2019Debate, but participating won’t make sense if PMB chickened out
Reno Omokri @renoomokri
Atiku’s advisers didn’t get this move right at all. This was your “See I’m here, I care, I feel your pain, I can hear you, the President couldn’t be bothered” moment and you blew it. #2019Debate
Wale Gates @walegates
Ezekwesili – present
Durotoye – present
Atiku – absent
Buhari – absent
Mogalu – present
Disgraceful and disrespectful for Buhari and Atiku to have ignored this debate. #2019Debate
Nigerians are being disrespected and they dont know they are being disrespected. They actually give themselves up to be disrespected. What a shame!#BuTiku is one and the same and not debating #2019Debate #2019Debate #2019Debate #2019Debate
Aisha Yesufu @AishaYesufu
Can Nigerians do it? Can we abandon Atiku and Buhari and choose a President among Kingsley Moghalu, Oby Ezekwesili, Fela Durotoye?
Can we focus on people who respected us enough to come to this Debate?#2019Debate #Presidentialdebate2019
Mine @AltruismIsUrSin
Oby ezekwesili just said that “the two absent candidates have just confirmed their exit from government”#2019Debate
ogundele olasunkanmi @kanmi_vibez
President @MBuhari and former Vice President @atiku have shown they don’t consider it important to share with 190 million Nigerians why they should earn our votes
FelaDUROTOYE @feladurotoye
We are watching a Presidential debate that was boycotted by the sitting president, and during a break, we are served with a campaign ad for his re-election.
Am I the only one feeling insulted by this?#Presidentialdebate2019 #2019Debate
Benny @BenUgbana
Atiku could have seen this as an opportunity, focus on your focus, ignore who decides not to show up and show up for Nigerians #PresidentialDebate2019
Toke Makinwa @tokstarr
Last 48 hours, @Atiku has shown he lacks leadership. Snuck into America like a thief in the night. Snuck out of the #Presidentialdebate2019 when he knew he’d be floored…
Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee @obyezeks, @feladurotoye and @MoghaluKingsley…
“@atiku turned up, he left due to Buhari’s absence. Buhari did not turn up at all, no official reason. To add insult upon injury, Buhari campaign Ads were now a dominant feature all through the programme. But it is Atiku you are angry with? Are you mad?”
@MrStanleyNwabia
“If Nigerians can’t see what’s going on tonight and still vote for Buhari or atiku in the upcoming election..then we have a huge problem.”
@Thrill_papy
“The absence of Atiku and Buhari is a blow on the electorates & also democracy. Additionally, it solidifies my earlier stance that electorates never decides who the cap fits. Until when the table turns, lets mind our individual businesses.”
@iam_krisjoe:
“Nigerians must push for another debate for only Atiku and Buhari.”
@Ms_Dynma:
“The contest is between Atiku and Buhari and Atiku has stated clearly his readiness to debate Buhari.”
@Chubalus16
“I just wish Nigerians could see that both Buhari and Atiku have nothing to offer”
@Shindara2
“It would have been worth it if these three: Kingsley Moghalu, Oby Ezekwesili and Fela Durotoye had formed that much anticipated 3rd force coalition with Kingsley Moghalu as the presidential candidate. As for APC (Buhari) and PDP (Atiku) hmmm Nigerians are watching.”
@HuncleCj
“Buhari is campaigning on the strength of his achievements and track record of integrity. Atiku, Go and tell Nigerians what you have achieved in your public life other than cornering the nation’s wealth to yourself, family and cronies.”
@Iykekenton
“PDP people are siding Atiku, APC people are siding Buhari. How dem go do? Mans go sha chop!”
@K_Basharr
“Buhari has been the president for the past 3.5yrs, he should come and debate. Your problem is Atiku backing down, fair enough. He has said why he won’t debate. Let Buhari come and show us what he has done in the last 3yrs 7months. Atiku is not afraid to debate.”
@Dozieben2
“I hold the president responsible for the whole thing. Atiku flew down quickly from the United States of America, USA, to debate with him,after PMB’s disastrous outing even with his own monologue “debate.”
Alas, on getting to Congress hall of Hilton hotel, Buhari was absent. So Atiku, his main rival decided to also leave. But Atiku should have stayed back,take part in the debate and rub in his absence as a slight on Nigerians and also symptomatic of someone who has no legacy to defend.”
Mike Ozekhome, lawyer
They have no regard for Nigerians and democratic principles. They were afraid of being scrutinized and exposed. It’s a shame of a nation.”
Tunde Adeniran, former national secretary of PDP
