Abati Says Buhari Is Scared To Debate With Jonathan
Clement Ejiofor, 3 hours ago

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share

The Presidency alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), refuses to debate because he is scared.


Reuben Abati

Punch recalls that the opposition rebuffed all the efforts to get Buhari to debate with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Goodluck Jonathan.

While the APC explained that they doubted the fairness of the process and thus did not want to join the orchestrated debates, the acting authorities said their opponents were simply scared.

The recent statement by Reuben Abati, Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, reads:

“The man to blame for this denial is General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Getting him to debate the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has been an uphill task.

READ ALSO: Patience Jonathan Calls On Nigerians To Stone The Opposition?


“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.”

Abati noted that Jonathan had accepted the invitations to 2 debates, adding that “Buhari was not interested” in any.

The official stressed the importance of debates conduct for strengthening democracy in the country. Nigerians should have a chance to see the main contenders sharing their opinions face-t0-face.

Abati narrated that first Buhari allegedly rejected a Sunday debate, saying he does not work by Sundays, then he purportedly refused to participate on Monday. After this both parties were said to have agreed on Tuesday, according to Abati, but…

“Two days to this debate that would have been, I received non-stop frantic calls from the troika of Momoh, Izeze and Obaigbena. There had been a development, they said. The fresh development was that they had met that same evening with General Buhari and he did not agree anymore to a debate with President Jonathan.

READ ALSO: Why Buhari Doesn’t Participate In Debates – Fani-Kayode

“Rather, he wanted a town hall meeting, in which he would be the sole participant. Another town hall meeting could be organised the same day for President Jonathan and both could be aired back to back. That was his request and wish. Momoh and co wanted the President to agree to this.”

In one of the recent developments Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of PDP’s campaign organizations, also blasted the APC presidential candidate saying that Buhari ddid not want to participate in debates because he is not equal to Jonathan.
http://www.naij.com/398124-abati-says-buhari-is-scared-to-debate-with-jonathan.html

Schedule for manifesto abi kini

There are two things Buhari hate in life: 1. Education. 2.Debates

Why should Buhari debate a confirmed failure ke?.....you want to see Buhari speak listen to the Chatham speech!

If you are so eager 4 a debate set Sambo n Osinbajo up....

This guy looks and sounds angry! If he ever wins, we are back to the haughty, arrogant days of Obasanjos nonchallancy. . He labours through his campaign as if he is doing us a favour to be on the podium. He considers himself too important to explain certain things or answer certain questions and now he is too big or is it too good to even debate! Where is this tone deaf alfa wriggling out from?? When he is not plotting a coup or dishing out pro violent religious outbursts, he starts to look like a fish out of water. With all the sanctimonious facade, deployed in a democratic setting, this guy is way out of his comfort zone. Head or tail, we seem screwed; if he wins, we have to contend with a Mr Know All too engrossed in his self belief to answer to anybody.. If he looses nkõ? Our dogs and baboons are going extinct.

How can an illiterate debate with a PHD holder?