I have being thinking about this issue for a while. Why there is no debate between Yaradua and other opposition during the last presidential election? is there no such things in Nigeria constitution? if there is a debate btw the opposition, Nigerians can decides what is best for them.

Discuss

its simple. the president was already designated. debate or no debate, we all knew who was gonna win. why debate.

if we do debates in Nigeria, atleast better candidates will be winning elections.
All those things will come to an end soon though. we are working on it

Where were you when Olu Falae and Obasanjo were scheduled for a debate.
OBJ skillful and tactfully dodged/"maradona'd" the debate.
Our democracy has not reached that level yet. Maybe from 2011 things will start looking up.

Don't need one, nothing to debate.

Lets start from the grass root even, why do we have debates amongst university student unions, local councillors etc

I think lagosians can take the lead, they are more civilised so they'll embrace the idea

It doesn't have to be in the constitution it just has to be agreed between the political parties

A-town:

Where were you when Olu Falae and Obasanjo were scheduled for a debate.
OBJ skillful and tactfully dodged/"maradona'd" the debate.
Our democracy has not reached that level yet. Maybe from 2011 things will start looking up.

You really want to wait till 2011 to see if there will be a debate?

There will be no debate. There never is in Nigerian society. He who is the "big man" in the society will have backing of the people regardless of what he has to say or do. It's African tradition, blind faith to the big chief (even if he's selling your ass to the whites for a few shiny trinkets), and all is well.

with the situation in nigerian politics, debate will do more harm than good.
take for instance, an obj who made it public that the elections was going to be a do or die affairs, sitting down to watch his candidate fail because of a question from a press man.
any media house that asked dua yara a suspicious question during a debate will be closed as soon as dua yara wins.
obj conducts debates in his ota farms and then brings the best candidate to us.

. May be when d british come again

Kobojunkie:

You really want to wait till 2011 to see if there will be a debate?

Not expecting it to occur. Just hoping it might start from then on.

Maybe when the military are draftin a new constitu,they will inculde debate inside,
cos thats they only way there can be debate.

A-town:

Not expecting it to occur. Just hoping it might start from then on.

One thing I know for sure about Nigeria is that nothing happens magically. To see it happen tommorow, you have to start working to see that reality from today.

MrCrackles:

There are no presidential debates in Nigeria because the people involved are clueless!

You believe those we have in leadership are all clueless? I beg to differ. I actually think and believe they know what they are doing. We subscribed to democratic rule but so far, they have engineered it in such a way that it is not that different from what we used to have in the country. The people still believe they are powerless and some go as far as to believe that is a good thing, Why? Because these men know how to play the NIGERIAN mind game.

Kobojunkie:

You believe those we have in leadership are all clueless? I beg to differ.

I think pretty much everyone involved in leadership in Nigeria are clueless

There may be a tiny fraction or proportion who knows thier onions, hence the reason why you differ!

MrCrackles:

I think pretty much everyone involved in leadership in Nigeria are clueless

There may be a tiny fraction or proportion who knows thier onions, hence the reason why you differ!

Clueless about what? Many of them get into government and understand that if they play their cards right, they can make away with out money without ever being brought to answer for it. That trend has continued for decades. If we bring in the idea of debates, these same men will go as far as re-engineering the process so they get asked questions they have studied for. They are willing to put up a good show to have things continue as they are. Are they really clueless??

Kobojunkie:

Clueless about what? Many of them get into government and understand that if they play their cards right, they can make away with out money without ever being brought to answer for it. That trend has continued for decades. Are they really clueless??

Not clueless in that sense!

We are talking about presidential debates here where corruption wont be talked about but if permitted they will make so much sense!

MrCrackles:


Not clueless in that sense!

We are talking about presidential debates here where corruption wont be talked about but if permitted they will make so much sense!

Ok. Considering the way I feel about these Nigerian people, especially those who are willing to say and do anything to get into office, I believe a debate at this time should not be used to measure qualification YET. I say yet because I believe these men who are seasoned liars and manipulators will find a way to play that game as well.

eyah, sometimes Kobojunkie seems to love her country. . . .wow!
That is well. . . .awesome sha

HeatFusion:

eyah, sometimes Kobojunkie seems to love her country. . . .wow!
That is well. . . .awesome sha

HUH?? I didn't take you to be a member of the "I LOVE NIGERIA BUT YOU DON't CAUSE I SAY SO"/" I LOVE NIGERIA PASS YOU" clan!!!

I think the media houses should be tasked on this one.
AIT, NTA or woteva network should take the bold step and announce that they'll be conducting Presidential debates and we'll take it from there.
OBJ escaped it the last time against falae because no one was really keen about it. We just wanted to get rid of the military. With the level of i.t and www in Nigeria now, an announcement like this for 2011 will definitely get people agitated. The contestants would find it difficult to "dodge"

seriously, NTA?

Kobojunkie:

seriously, NTA?

y not

Kobojunkie:

HUH?? I didn't take you to be a member of the "I LOVE NIGERIA BUT YOU DON't CAUSE I SAY SO"/" I LOVE NIGERIA PASS YOU" clan!!!

Now it's my turn to say "huh".


Let's just say my love for Nigeria does not blind my eyes to the problem(s) the country is suffering from.

The way I see it, NTA is it yet another government controlled institution. Why would I trust a resource controlled by those in government to put together a respectable presidential debate?

i'm feeling sleepy house

Presidential debates have been started - I remember there were a few done a couple of years ago, 2003 I think, during OBJ's reelection campaign.

I remember Jim Nwobodo giving some ridiculous answers - I think it was organised in conjunction with the NTA and shown live, but somehow, OBJ and some others stayed away from the event due to 'campaign constraints'.  I don't know if there were any attempted for the 2007 elections.

The fact is, (rigging excluded) the majority of the electorate do not even have electricity or TVs/radios to watch/listen to the debates. The politicians would rather go on rallies in each and every state to make themselves seen and to  connect with the electorate who would bring them into power.

Anyways, back to the issue of debates, It can be re-initiated and would be a good exercise to some extent.

I question how much of relevance it has in the Nigerian context, since all the politicians say the same thing: I will give you 'water, roads, light, security, jobs, etc'. There are very few ideological differences (if any) that can be used to distinguish candidates in Nigeria. Personalities dominate more than anything else.

HeatFusion:

Now it's my turn to say "huh".


Let's just say my love for Nigeria does not blind my eyes to the problem(s) the country is suffering from.

Cool!!

let nta conduct the organized fraud. knowing our politicians. even if dem give them pre school level questions and all the right answers their talent would still shine thru.

me thinks Pst Chris once debated right in 2004? but can't remember with whom?
but another point is, in what language will the debate be? not everyone speaks english. This is not just the rural areas, I mean even the politicians themselves.

debosky:

I question how much of relevance it has in the Nigerian context, since all the politicians say the same thing: I will give you 'water, roads, light, security, jobs, etc'. There are very few ideological differences (if any) that can be used to distinguish candidates in Nigeria. Personalities dominate more than anything else.

FACT!!!