Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, has finally agreed to participate in a televised presidential debate to be hosted by Lagos -based NN24 cable station.

Jonathan had initially refused to participate after the station turned down his request to have the debate questions sent to him in advance.

The station had no option but to suspend the debate until today. A source at NN24 told SaharaReporters today that Mr. Jonathan has agreed to participate in the debate "unconditionally".

The debate is now scheduled to take place on March 18, 2011. All the major presidential candidates had earlier agreed to participate without imposing conditions.

The debate between the vice presidential candidates will take place on March 11, 2011.

In the 1999 election between then Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae, Mr. Obasanjo refused to debate Olu Falae, the opposition candidate, because he was viewed to be ahead in the polls. In 2003, the planned debate with Gen. Buhari did not take place due to poor planning.

Last month, the sitting governor in Abia State, Gov. Chief Theodore Orji, stormed out of a planned debate with his opponents. His reason was that the debate organized by the Catholic Church had a hostile environment.

Despite twelve straight years of democracy, Nigerian politicians have continued to show disdain for its basic tenets. Campaigns are devoid of issues and candidates show little interest in agenda-based campaign aimed at solving the numerous problems confronting Nigeria.


SaharaReporters
http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/finally-jonathan-agrees-television-debate

Now you are talking!

Dame patience is solidly behind you, no shaking! Oga plesident you shampion in geeezus name!

Strategic move!!! In the art of war, allowing your opponents the opportunity to underestimate your capacity is the most potent tool for a surprise attack!!!

The opposition have been going on as though they want this debate so badly. How about on that day Jonathan does to them what Fashola did to his opponents? Ribadu, Buhari and the other candidates are all not very good with the use of words, so it would definitely be an interesting debate to watch!

PapaBrowne:

Strategic move!!! In the art of war, allowing your opponents the opportunity to underestimate your capacity is the most potent tool for a surprise attack!!!

The opposition have been going on as though they want this debate so badly. How about on that day Jonathan does to them what Fashola did to his opponents? Ribadu, Buhari and the other candidates are all not very good with the use of words, so it would definitely be an interesting debate to watch!

Please desist from juxtaposing death with sleep.

Now that's how to play the game. Let them flap their tongues spewing unimaginable crap then relax and watch them slowly eat back their vomit like some hopeless ruminant animal. Shameless lot.

This is a good move from gej

wow! we have finally forced a lamb out of his secure vicinity "i dey see danger, wahala dey"

many thanks to mutable forces on NL.

NO TELEPONDER WILL BE ADMITTED.

After Bakare must have annihilate sambo, the final result will look like this. . .

1. Ribadu

2. GEJ

3.Buhari (His accent will betray him )

^
Of the three, Ribadu speaks by far the worst English, so if you are judging by Buhari's accent, thats a fail. Also, Ribadu's accent is nearly as bad as Buhari's.

If you ask me, lets dump all the silly talk about better English and better accents and deal with the meat the guys bring to the table.

^^^ Beaf. That was my personal view(having met all of them one on one). lets have yours

Another comedy show! lets see what they have for us aside their extravagant rallies. Communication is less about accent but more about getting the other party to understand your ideas. If na elocution u want then OKOTIE should be your candidate. Where drama go dey na the VP Debate

Why did Jonathan want the debate questions sent to him in advance? Na wa for PhD holders of nowadays o!

Yes!!!! Jonathan you have this shot to convince me n fellow like minds. Use it wisely.

U de vex?:

^
Of the three, Ribadu speaks by far the worst English, so if you are judging by Buhari's accent, thats a fail. Also, Ribadu's accent is nearly as bad as Buhari's.

If you ask me, lets dump all the silly talk about better English and better accents and deal with the meat the guys bring to the table.

Why do you people lie so casually? Why is ignorance and deciet the stock in trade of you GEJ fans? Of the trio of Ribadu , Buhari and GEJ it is Ribadu , by far , in recent times that has the best record of public speaking throughout the world . Google is your friend use it and stop peddling lies . "Worst English" must not mean his accent . It must pertrain to grammer if you are to be believed . People should listen to the two examples below and see if Ribadu has a problem with grammer. while ribadu is no Donald Duke he cannot be indicted of not being able to communicate effectively to get his message accross as you detractors regularly posit . Those who have time should then give us several examples of Jonathan and Buhari speaking publicly without a script .

http://current.com/news-and-politics/91224118_nuhu-ribadu-at-the-national-assembly-of-southern-sudan.htm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VH-Xsgvv70&p=AEB630EC3367FA61

This is a grave mistake, he'll go there and disgrace himself. . . the joy

solihu:

Now you are talking!

Dame patience is solidly behind you, no shaking! Oga plesident you shampion in geeezus name!

ROTFLAMAO

Finally he got the expo he's been waiting for. I hope they will allow people to ask questions from the internet o!
In fact they should allow the use of video calling into the program.

9ijaMan:

Finally he got the expo he's been waiting for. I hope they will allow people to ask questions from the internet o!
In fact they should allow the use of video calling into the program.

I beg easy, you want the man to piss himself

I told you guys he would

WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN?

WHICH ASPIRANT IS BETTER?

I CAN WAIT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN?

BUT I THINK HE WILL WIN!

AND THAT IS IT!

Finally

Hope to hear the "how" and not the "i will"

whether debate or no debate uncle jonna go enter as president, he has good plans but no charisma to express it and another thing is that we to use to aggressive and authoritative presidents in the past that is why we are not cherishing the calmness of president Goodluck

"Woo hoo!", way to go, sir Jonathan

9ijaMan:

Finally he got the expo he's been waiting for. I hope they will allow people to ask questions from the internet o!
In fact they should allow the use of video calling into the program.

Indeed . Is NN24 not owned by Danjuma? They should simply make someone like Wole Soyinka the host and ensure questions are submitted by the public transparently . Otherwise,  in Mago-mago Nigeria , it will only be 'pre-approved callers' who will be allowed to submit questions while the partisan host will have lined up pre-arranged questions for Jonathan. He is just not trustworthy at all. He is , afterall , the same chap who wanted to amend the electoral bill to allow his appointees be voting delegates before the PDP Primaries.  I am 100% sure Jonathan  will do anything to give himself an unfair advantage. I still don't expect him to do well ,even with the questions recieved in advance. In front of the camera, the guy trembles and always looks to be about to make a run for it.

^^^^

I hope and pray same questions are asked them all, we bi want wuru wuru oo.

Only an experienced slowpoke will expect Badluck to Better Ribadu in any form of debate.

Some people keep forgetting that Ribadu is a trained lawyer that entered the police arm of law enforcement as an officer. The man was never one of these your N20 roadside policemen.

My only suggestion is that all candidates be thoroughly searched for "chukuli" before they enter the hall because we know that Azikiwe Mai-Nassara can never do without his pieces of paper.

Fatal Mistake(Part 1)!!!

Good move to us.

I learnt dat d moderator of dis debate is basket mouth with alibaba as d time keeper

The debate is a serious comedy already,
if Basket mouth & Alibaba will anchor the program then
its gonna b a rib breaking drama o!

Well, 'All The Best to My Main Men of CPC -BB"
I 've no doubt, they're going to unfold the plans of
Progressive Change for a New Nigeria.

i really wonder who is going to be the MAN of that day
I pray that they will put what they said on ground if any wins cos 'talking is a problem and doing it is another problem'

baslone:

Fatal Mistake(Part 1)!!!

If I laugh any harder I will get fired today. Chei,
I know that will end up give momentum to opposition, I mean who will stand the ever TALKFULL Bakare, or the charming Ribadu.Certainly PDP just committed a fatal error. I am sure they will have the debate held in the night so people can't watch it live, screw the "no conditions" clause we know better.
I am already seeing a Nick Clegg moment in the debate, Lord have mercy!