Abuja — It was shocker Monday at the first session of the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) organised presidential debate as the vice-presidential candidate of the United Nigeria Party for Development (UNPD), Alhaji Galadima Samari, could not speak English. He spoke through an interpreter from the Voice of Nigeria (VON).

Out of the four vice-presidential candidates slated for the first session of the debate, only two attended. They were Samari and Mr. Gabriel Ogbonna of the National Transformation Party (NTP). Those for the Mega Peoples Progressive Party (MPPP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) were absent. No reason was given for their absence.

Chairman of the NEDG, Aremo Taiwo Alimi, declared the debate open at 4.25 pm.

Regina Abu was the moderator, while Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye of the University of Lagos and Ms. Ijeoma Nwogwugwu of THISDAY served as panellists for the first session.

The hall was virtually empty, unlike the presidential debate organised by the NN24 television where the hall was filled by Nigerians and diplomats.

Of all the eight rows of seats, only three were occupied. Each of the vice-presidential candidates was given three minutes to respond to questions from the panelists.

In his brief remarks before fielding questions from the panelists, Samari said he started politics in 1967 with the Action Group (AG), joined the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) in 1979, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992 and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said he left the PDP because it had no programme for Nigerians.

On his part, Ogbonna simply described himself as an engineer and a man with core family values.

The NTP vice-presidential candidate said he would ensure the eradication of corruption if elected the vice-president of Nigeria, adding that corruption was the major problem plaguing the country.

He blamed corruption for unemployment and pledged that he would use his office as vice-president to ensure equal distribution of wealth.

On how to ensure quality health policies for the country, Samari said he would use education to enhance quality health programmes, while Ogbonna pledged that he would ensure that Nigeria gets clean water within 90 days of being elected into office.

Both of them spoke on how to ensure an integrated road network to help transportation in the country.

On a specific note, Samari spoke on how his party would ensure the maximum use of road and rail network to ensure the distribution of goods and services across the six geo-political zones.

The second session was a monologue as the PDP vice-presidential candidate, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, was the only one present.

His counterparts from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Pastor Tunde Bakare; Fola Adeola of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); and John Odigie-Oyegun of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) did not attend.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, has said the PDP would not beg the presidential candidates of the CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; ACN, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and ANPP, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to attend the presidential debate.

Wonders they say, shall never end. Only in Naija cha!

Am not really surprise when that man can't speak english, but it seem we Nigerians Value foreign language than our local languages. Am really happy when that man spoke in hausa all through the Debate. Well it better than some first Lady speaking incorrect english up and down.