₦airaland Forum

Lanre Issa-Onilu, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says President Muhammadu Buhari owes no one any explanation for not attending the presidential debate.

The debate which held on Saturday was organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).

President Muhammadu Buhari was not in attendance. A statement from his campaign council said the president could not attend the debate because of a clash with his hectic schedule.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came to venue, also refused to participate in the debate, later citing the absence of the president.

Oby Ezekwesili, Fela Durotoye and Kingsley Moghalu, presidential candidates of Allied Congress Party Of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance For New Nigeria (ANN) and Young Progressive Party (YPP), respectively, were in attendance.

Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Issa-Onilu said the debate was only important to those seeking power.

“The president does not have to give reason for now attending that debate,” he said.

“Let me reiterate like I have said earlier, the debate is just one of several platforms for our candidate to engage with the public. We pick the platforms that are impactful and we are the one to determine which one we want to use.

“Debate with who? That’s an insult. That the president will come and debate with who? The debate the president is having is what he did in Niger state – [Niger people] can look to a brighter future. The people of this country, everywhere they go they see development, they can see projects going on. So these are the debates that the president is already engaging with the public.

“That particular debate could be important and I think it is important to those seeking power not somebody who has has a lot speaking for him already.”

According to Issa-Onilu, the PDP presidential candidate “covertly” ran away.

“It is a pointer that that a man seeking our mandate has nothing to offer,” he said.

“He made it clear that he will enrich he will enrich his friends. Our national assets are up for grabs.”

The spokesman said Abubakar went to the US “like a fugitive and came back like a fugitive”.

“They have not been able to present to us evidence of their meeting with anyone of note,” he said.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ripplesnigeria.com/its-an-insult-to-have-expected-buhari-to-debate-he-owes-nigerians-no-explanation-apc/amp/

bizzibodi:
How u intend to achieve that in 2mins?Look Bros,there are many forums a candidate that sell himself:e.g rally,town hall meetings,radio & TV adverts,jingles,bill boards,house to house campaigns, party manifestoes,social media.do u know that Saturday debates most of d adverts on that program are for Buhari/APC campaigns.buhari use sense to sell himself while Atiku shot himself in d foot.

So buhari that dodged cowardly used sense to sell himself but Atiku that even showed up is now the one that shot himself in the foot?
You guy's hypocrisy is very shameless.
I am ashamed on your behalf

In the animal kingdom, two lions fixed a date for The Great Big Fight. The winner of the fight would be the next King of the Jungle.

One of the Lions contesting, decided not to leave its lair on the day of the fight. The other Lion, prepared and ready, got to the arena in the forest where the other animals were waiting and saw three Pussycats.

'What's this?' The amused Lion asked the Monkey, who was the Referee.

'Bufasa couldn't make it. These Pussycats were sent by him to fight you instead', said the Monkey, trying to hide a smile.

The Other Lion laughed out loud, shook its mane in mirth and turned to the Monkey.

'When I was a cub, Pussycats were used as training game for me. When I was a cub. Did I come here for Pussycat meat or for a battle with another who has a withered mane? Please, don't insult my intelligence. I will go back to my own lair now but tell him that I await another day and time for the Great Fight. Pussycats, my foot!'

The Majestic Lion left the arena and the Pussycats decided to entertain the other animals gathered, for a throne they knew would never be theirs.

Charles Novia

Sentiments aside, it's only in non apc states that we still receive news of developmental strides

Shawnnn01:
I am sick n tired of NL idiots are allowed to open thread not minding how senseless they can be. Buhari is hidden but an Aboki that is telling NigerDelta that he will come n sell their NNPC /crude oil to his Aboki friends even if he’s killed doing that is what you are slaving for.

Another 10 years down the line your father and their unborn generation will be blaming your costly
Mistake on afonja. Make you use your brain now you no gree.


[s][/s]

Where did afonja come into my post. I hate when tribal bigots beseige my post with their bigotry. It's not the fault of any tribe that your parents are poor. They would have still been poor, nevertheless

Buhari simply chickened out.
Even a day or two before the debate, they already settled within the apc that he won't come. As one guy in his campaign train told a friend when asked if Buhari will be at the debate "una go wait tire".

But trust APC and hypocrisy, their media handlers have been sent out to turn the table against atiku for not debating as a means of distracting us from Buhari chickening out

You know at the depths of your heart that APC is hiding Buhari from public events.
And you know deep within you why they are shielding him.
And yet you want to vote him again to run our nation?


Are you not putting the nation at risk

Can you disclose to us first why Buhari failed to attend despite over two months notice.

PDP made it clear over a week ago through a press statement that atiku will withdraw if the apc hides their candidate. Why didn't you lend your voice to calling Buhari to debate.

Abeg. Make una spare us this hypocrisy

SamuelAnyawu:
Some is busy losing real voters you are bringing Instagram numbers.


Kindly vidot his facebook page you'll understand why Atiku refused to sleep last Night after that political blunder

And Buhari walked away and its not an issue?

Zombies want to create an impression of Nigerians not being happy with Atiku in order to divert attention from the fact that Buhari chickened out like a coward.

APC challenged atiku to go to America. He did.
PDP challenged Buhari to attend the debate. He ran away

SirBunky85:
ur question should be "why did atiku chicken out ?was d debate about pmb?

A presidential debate without the president is not a presidential debate

SirBunky85:
Is atiku meant to face pmb ?u guys are too pathetic

I asked a simple question. Why are we talking about Atiku when chickened out

But the fact that you have a dumb principal doesn't mean that all of you appointees should be dumb too. Haba

Mine was taken unusually around 4.30pm and hasn't been restored

SirBunky85:
is atiku meant to engage pmb or Nigerians?u pple are so myopic and gullible

Why shift the attention to Atiku when buhari chickened out much earlier. Isn't that hypocrisy

His hectic schedule? A debate that was fixed about two months ago.
But he was able to attend the one organised by NTA where he had osibanjo by his side to answer for him.
Festus, you guys know this man is going senile and exhibiting signs of chronic dementia, why not let him retire for God's sake

bizzibodi:
Is it about a wrestling match btw 2 people or an opportunity to sell oneself alone.

Debate is not campaign.
At a campaign, you are free to market yourself with unrealistic promises like "I will make N1 equal to $1. I will stabilise the price of crude in the international market. I will pay every unemployed youth a stipend till they get job etc.
But at a debate you are made to explain "how" you intend to achieve that.

If one will not come to answer "how", then he's not serious

Tell buhari that Atiku has challenged him to fix a date and place convenient for him.
No need for this long grammar and excuses

Let it be known that if Buhari fails to attend the presidential debate, then Atiku should boycott it.
APC goons think they are smart. Hiding their senile and mentally demented candidate, yet looking forward to Atiku at the debate to pick holes in anything he will say.



APC hypocrites .

If buhari doesn't attend the debate, then Atiku should boycott it. APC zombies think they are smart. They have hidden their senile and mentally demented candidate but has brought their pen and papers to pick holes in what Atiku will say while their own will not just create holes but lacunas

So one guy commenting while videoing with his camera phone is now Nigerians?

I guess they don't want him to beat Buhari's record.
The only President in the world to sink his nation into recession twice the two times he was President

tsephanyah:
The suspects have been identified as Godwill Jackson 22 and Dumlebabari Mbane 28.
Meanwhile
Most Bloggers and Media don’t want to report the good that our president is doing for the Nigerian people so they make up lies instead.

PDP, Ignos, and the media are all in cahoots in an attempt to downplay PMB Achievement!

So this should be listed as a Buhari achievement?
OK.
Scarcity of achievement dey worry this government

Buhari has chickened out. The coward

UrbanExotica:
shut up brokeass

You are exhibiting the rudeness usually manifesting in kids from poor background who fake a life they dream about.
I won't engage u kid

If Buhari skpis the debate , atiku and others should

El Rufai is always losing sons and brothers. I hope he's not using then them for .....

Is she cooking flowers

ollah2:
He isn't a nobody. He is a presidential candidate. Have you asked yourself why couldnt he travel since 12 years ago? He would have struck a deal with Saraki

Do you know that everything you said is based on postulations. Guesses.
But am giving you facts which are he's a guest speaker and visitor to many govt agencies. They won't give him such invitations if he was an aide or wanted fugitive

Ever since buhari came on tv severally to show dementia and senility, I knew apc kids will be sent out to try to reduce Atiku to the new low buhari has sank himself to

ollah2:
That's the fact though. Atiku travelled to USA under the diplomatic immunity of Saraki as the Senate President of Nigeria. He was included in Saraki's delegation and they're all covered by the diplomatic immunity of the Senate President. Nobody can arrest any of them, those who are familiar with the working of diplomatic immunity will understand this. Would have Atiku travelled alone to USA as a private citizen without diplomatic coverage?

He travelled as an aide and yet he has invitations as guest speaker of many US agencies, institutes and congress