Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate - Politics - Nairaland
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| Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Kobojunkie: 6:14am On Mar 19, 2011 |
[size=13pt]REUTERS: Nigerian president snubs TV election debate [/size] http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFLDE72H28620110318?sp=true By Joe Brock ABUJA, March 18 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan snubbed a television debate with election rivals on Friday, drawing criticism from the Facebook generation he sought to woo at his campaign launch six months ago. There was an empty podium next to his rivals, ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, former anti-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu and Kano state governor Ibrahim Shekarau, at the event, broadcast live on Nigerian news channel NN24 and the Internet. "Why don't Ribadu, Shekarau and Buhari agree under one party and kick this PDP (ruling party) out of power," said one posting on a Facebook page dedicated to following the NN24 debate. "GEJ (Jonathan) should have at least sent a Senior Special Assistant on Debates and Challenging Interviews," said one commentator on Twitter, mocking the ruling party's reputation for setting up committees without solving problems. The presidency said NN24's request was one of several from media organisations seeking to organise a televised debate and had been received while he was busy on the campaign trail. "The request came late, it was one of ten. He's going to participate in a debate on the 29th, It's unfair to the president to suggest he's avoiding a debate," said Ken Saro-Wiwa, his special assistant on international affairs. The presidential vote is due to be held on April 9, with parliamentary elections a week earlier and state governorship elections a week later. [nLDE6AM2BY] Jonathan announced his intention to run in the elections on social networking site Facebook in September, stealing the thunder from Buhari, who was holding a campaign launch in the capital Abuja at the time. [nLDE68E10D] Jonathan's aides spun the strategy as a sign he was a "breath of fresh air" in touch with Nigerian youth. Political commentators acknowledged the stark contrast with the traditional pomp of Buhari's launch was a publicity coup. But his campaign has since lost momentum, with the turnout at some of his rallies in recent weeks less than overwhelming. A pre-recorded television interview with local music star D'banj, broadcast on Thursday evening, was pilloried by some as a patronising attempt to engage with the youth. "Jonathan and the PDP may be misjudging the youth who are determined to put an end to the era of mediocrity and criminal showmanship that has dragged their nation backward for decades," said one comment doing the rounds on Blackberry messenger. OPPOSITION EYES RUN-OFF The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate has won every election since the end of military rule 12 years ago and Jonathan remains the front runner, but opposition parties are hoping they may be able to force a run-off. Jonathan must win at least a quarter of the vote in two thirds of the 36 states to secure victory in the first round. Buhari has strong grass roots support in parts of the north, while Ribadu's Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is dominant in the southwest, and while they have no formal alliance they are hoping to prevent Jonathan clinching a first-round win. Diplomats were in the front row at the debate and members of the audience were asked to submit questions in advance. Buhari was grilled on his reputation as an authoritarian during military rule, Ribadu on why he was standing for a party whose members include people he has accused of graft, and Shekarau on the Hisbah Islamic squad he set up in Kano to enforce sharia law even on a Christian minority. [nLDE72E2ST] The opposition has called for the order of the parliamentary and state governorship votes to be amended, saying the timetable favoured the ruling party because if Jonathan won the presidential race then voters would be more inclined to vote PDP at state level a week later. The electoral commission ruled out the suggestion on Friday, saying it was too late for such a change. "It is like a moving train, it cannot suddenly be brought to a stop because you see something by the rail," electoral commission spokesman Kayode Idowu said. (Additional reporting by Nick Tattersall, Camillus Eboh and Afolabi Sotunde; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Sophie Hares) |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Kilode1: 6:20am On Mar 19, 2011 |
"GEJ (Jonathan) should have at least sent a Senior Special Assistant on Debates and Challenging Interviews," said one commentator on Twitter, mocking the ruling party's reputation for setting up committees without solving problems. Hahahahahaha  |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by ekubear1: 6:27am On Mar 19, 2011 |
lol @ him getting smashed by both local commentators and international media for skipping the exam |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Kilode1: 6:30am On Mar 19, 2011 |
The opposition has called for the order of the parliamentary and state governorship votes to be amended, saying the timetable favoured the ruling party because if Jonathan won the presidential race then voters would be more inclined to vote PDP at state level a week later. Fresh air indeed! They are using the same "railroad" method PDP employed to rig votes in their favour in 1999, 2003 and 2007 -Get the president in first and all other positions shall be added unto you- Stale Air 2011! |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Kobojunkie: 7:04am On Mar 19, 2011 |
[size=13pt]Nigerian president boycotts TV debate ahead of April poll[/size] (AFP) – 8 hours ago http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5imodXpCSYpjUxesO9uiNwZc6d2Qg?docId=CNG.cb9a703546a716b6ea833e7994a082c9.ac1 ABUJA — Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday boycotted the nation's first presidential debate ahead of April polls, in which his rivals promised to fight corruption and squandering of resources. If elected into office, "I promise to be accountable to Nigerians. Public treasury is a trust and nobody can tamper with it and get away with it," a former dictator, Muhammadu Buhari, told an audience during a live television debate. Buhari, 68, candidate of leading opposition party Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), ruled the country with an iron hand in 1984 and 1985 during which he fought corruption. He promised that his regime would look into how the more than 12 billion dollars injected into electricity provision since 1999 when the ruling PDP party came into office had not produced commensurate result. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, generates less than 4,000 megawatts of power, compared to South Africa with more than 43,000 megawatts for a population of less than 50 million. "We have spent over 10 billion dollars on power (since 1999). There is a question to ask on that," said Nuhu Ribadu, candidate of the second biggest opposition party Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Ribadu, a retired senior police officer, once headed the nation's anti-graft agency that convicted corrupt ministers and other politicians. Jonathan boycotted the debate, broadcast live on a private television NN24. His office said in an official statement earlier this week that he would feature only in a debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), which he said had been the "traditional platform" for such debates. BON, a coalition of broadcasting stations in Nigeria, is planning to stage its presidential debate at the end of this month, and Jonathan has said he was ready to participate. Ibrahim Shekarau, candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), said that his government would plug leaks and stop waste, and fight fraud and corruption. "There are a lot of wastages in government," said Shekarau, governor of Kano, Nigeria's most populous state in the north, since 2003. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by lionness(f): 7:29am On Mar 19, 2011 |
Of course, the chief of armed gangsters cant debate anywhere neutral and fair, is his English better than his shame, and disgrace of a cow-like wife? He will definitely opt for a PDP-controlled platform where a loser like him can cheat like he has always done all his entire low-life. I know if this guy's PHd situation is investigated, Nigeria would see this is the most uninspiring, ineffective, half-educated and serially dimwitted joke to ever rule this country, because GEJ Phd is nothing but a fraud. Its a shame the head of scammers is a complete human gabbage, the wife, a refuse, the VIP, a pig. If this embarassment win this election, I would give up completely on this country, and quielty go back Quebec and agree that Nigerians are hopeless. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Kobojunkie: 8:46am On Mar 19, 2011 |
Na wa ooo . . .The debate even took place in Abuja and not Lagos sef!  |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Pharoh: 10:40am On Mar 19, 2011 |
His office said in an official statement earlier this week that he would feature only in a debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), which he said had been the "traditional platform" for such debates. BON, a coalition of broadcasting stations in Nigeria, is planning to stage its presidential debate at the end of this month, and Jonathan has said he was ready to participate. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Bawss1(m): 11:57am On Mar 19, 2011 |
Fresh Excuses 2011 |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Sweetnecta: 12:00pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
gej seems to be very archaic in his thought process for his young age. he needs to step aside for an older man with better work ethics, youthful vigor and more progressive ideas, heading the country in the right direction. the best days of nigeria may be yet to come, minus gej is a greater possibility, than his gloom and doom position he has boxed us in. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by brixton: 12:28pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
Alot of nairalanders look for every little excuss to smash uncle Jonah,im glad to know uncle Jonah has become ur biggest nightmares. How on earth can you compare a debate by BON (coalition of all media houses in d land) to a debate by a private television station on a platform that is not accessible to the common nigeria man?? It is very obvious that alot of these aspirants are desperate and they end up pointing fingers at uncle Jonah and his party,there is no politician that's born a saint.I just want my fam on ere that these lots dont need be president before they can make a change in our lives.Also wat happened to the God sent Goodluck Jonathan that we shouted and scrambled for about 10months ago?? We need be truthful to ourselves and stop compounding Nigeria issues. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by proudly9ja(m): 12:44pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
We are waiting for BON to organise their debate. Let them give him expo but he should attend. No excuses this time. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Nobody: 12:46pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
leave ej, he was wornout after trying the new koboko tricks taught by the kokomaster |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Nobody: 12:56pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
We have people here on nairaland who either dodge from the truth or are just ignorant of the Nigeria Broadcasting outfit mainly because they are are outside the country or in Nigeria but not in tune with what BON is all about.BON is an umbrella body for all Broadcasting outfits(Private and Government owned inclusive) e.g AIT,Ray power,NTA.FRCN,SIlverbird,Channels,Silverbird,CoolFM,Hot FM,DBN etc.They have always being responsible for presidential debates and one of the main mandate of BON is to broadcast any issue of national importance live.So I dont see why people are taking this NN24 issue serious that 90% of Nigerians wont listen to.What if all TV and Radio station decide to organise their own debates,all presidential candidates would attend more than 30 Debates before the election and the debates on its own would lost its significance and become more of comedy.Whoever is not ready for the BON debate should just go home and sleep.GEJ has gone round the 36 states soliciting for votes,these other presidential candidates have not,they can jump from one TV station/Radio to another as a platform for their campaign,they need it and not GEJ.If they want a true national debate that even a groundnut seller with a transistor radio will listen to,then they should come out for the BON debate |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by samix(m): 1:10pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
oyb: dumbster you must be, he attended Dbanj's interview and not the debate he was invited for? I wonder why Nigerians (GEJ supporters) refuse to see the hand writing on the wall, maybe they are blind naturally or became blind as a result of the little change that got stuffed in their pockets. Lets keep toiling around with our future and that of our unborn children and the grands. If GEJ is elected then then we should be called our own main problem and not the looters, pen robbers and assassins we have ruling us. It beats my imagination how some people think. SUFFERING AND SMILING WE REALLY ARE, HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH  |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by samix(m): 1:20pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
oyb: dumbster you must be, he attended Dbanj's interview and not the debate he was invited for? I wonder why Nigerians (GEJ supporters) refuse to see the hand writing on the wall, maybe they are blind naturally or became blind as a result of the little change that got stuffed in their pockets. Lets keep toiling around with our future and that of our unborn children and the grands. If GEJ is elected then then we should be called our own main problem and not the looters, pen robbers and assassins we have ruling us. It beats my imagination how some people think. SUFFERING AND SMILING WE REALLY ARE, HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by samix(m): 1:22pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
Ozin: Another dumbie at it again, thats the most ridiculous excuse any aspirant can give |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by eros(m): 2:10pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
lionness: Well said indeed. Well said. I couldn't have constructed a better statement of fact than this. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by mrofficial(m): 2:17pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
The debate was essential for him. Just that he wouldn't answer 10% of the questions, he then lied. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by IykeD(m): 2:31pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
A big shame to GEJ and his PDP men of dishonor! |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by boycottam: 2:36pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
 D'Banj as corrupt as his crossed eyes |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by malali: 3:00pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
MEND PLEASE STOP DBANJ SHOW MEND STYLE THIS BOY WANTS TO MORTGAGE NIGERIA'S FUTURE FOR SOME KOKOLETTES AND UNBLERAS |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Orikinla(m): 3:15pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
The President Has A Ph.D, But Low IQ https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-588121.64.html OBJ, THE "EBORA OF OWU" HAS GIVEN US A PUPPET HE CAN MANIPULATE FROM HIS REMOTE CONTROL AND HE IS PLANNING TO RIG THE ELECTIONS TO KEEP GEJ IN ASO VILLA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by reindeer: 3:39pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
GEJ FRESH EXCUSES 2011  |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Kobojunkie: 4:17pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
Ozin: The most ridiculous GBAJUE excuse ever put together by a president !  |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Becomrichn: 4:23pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
wh |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Sagamite(m): 4:33pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
lionness: GBAM!!! Thank you! We have a moooronic Silverback Gorilla as Pinhead of Federal Republic of Nigeria. eku_bear: Exam he was requesting expo for beforehand, otherwise he is not attending. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by yeswecan(m): 4:51pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
lionness: LOOOOOOOOOOL. a cow-like wife. This poster is really angry. It is glaring that Jonathan is frightened chicken - a Phd holder that can not handle a common CNN interview done in the convenience his office will have to come under debate scrutiny in Nigeria. . no he can't, he is not bold enough. YOU should see how little Isha Sesay humiliated him on a CNN interview. |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by eghost247(m): 5:05pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
boycottam: Haters will always be haters |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by thecrew: 6:12pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
you guys are just busy commenting on what you don't even know the root properly, do you know how busy Mr president its , and if your are to be in his position i wonder what will happen, we all knows the truth but are just beating around the bush also we know he can not change nigeria but he will do his best and leave the rest for for want to come again and for God to take control, |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by soldee: 6:17pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
Democracy is about what the people want! The people wanted the debate Its not about the TV stations, its about the people! ----Oh, and the people are talking, and come April 2011, THE PEOPLE WILL BE VOTING |
| Re: Reuters: Nigerian President Snubs Tv Election Debate by Sagamite(m): 6:30pm On Mar 19, 2011 |
thecrew: What a dumb contribution!!! So busy doing what that he has no time to come and tell the people he wants to dictate their lives and existence why he is the best man for the job? Tell me. |
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