The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) has challenged All Progressives Congress (APC) to moderate a live television debate featuring President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari.
Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, said that the PDP was ready to attend any debate, anywhere in the country with the APC candidate even if that debate was organised by the APC’s spokesman Lai Mohammed, and the APC itself,as long as it would be televised live.
Buhari had said he would not participate in the debate being organized by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) for 14 presidential candidates and their running mates.
The APC candidate alleged bias because, according to him, the organisers of the debate were federal government agencies and parastatals.
“Since the APC is not comfortable with anyone else handling and organising the debate and since they keep alleging bias on the part of any sensible and impartial organizer, we challenge themto organise the debatethemselves.
“As long as the debate is live and they will allow our candidate to speak his mind on all issues, without any interruption and without cutting him short, we assure them that we will attend. Our candidates-President Jonathan and his Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo will take up the gauntletand join issues with them anywhere in this country and at anytime as long as the Nigerian people can witness the event live and as long as it is done openly for the world to see.
“We know that they may have a few challenges with the English language; so, if they like theycanevenconduct the debate in vernacular:we would beprepared topay for a translator or an interpreterjust so that they could understand the proceedings.
“Whenever they want to organise such a debateand wherever they choose as the venue, we will bethere, as long it will be televised live.This is because we believe that under any circumstances and in every situation President Goodluck Jonathan will give Buhari the thrashing of his life in any frank and open discussion about his record in public office,” Fani-Kayode said.
Excerpted from Vanguard
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) is insisting on the participation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in a live television debate with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, said that the PDP was ready to attend any debate, anywhere in the country with the APC candidate even if that debate was organised by the APC’s spokesman Lai Mohammed, and the APC itself,as long as it would be televised live.
Buhari had said he would not participate in the debate being organized by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) for 14 presidential candidates and their running mates.
The APC candidate alleged bias because, according to him, the organisers of the debate were federal government agencies and parastatals.
Buhari and Jonathan
“The decision of the APC not to participate in the debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) on the grounds of alleged bias is baseless and absurd.The decision of the APC to boycott the debate provides ample evidence of their cowardice and their unrelenting contempt for the Nigerian people,” Fani-Kayode said.
“The truth is that the electorate would like to see the presidential candidates of all the political parties square up in a television debate to answer questions on their blueprint for governance and national development.
“The PDPPresidential Campaign Organisation is interested in our candidate, President Jonathan, engaging General Buhari in a robust and livelydebate so that both men can speak about issues like corruption, insurgency, the fight against terrorismandtheeconomyall ofwhich are areasin which Buhari has grounded his unjustifiable and mischievous attacks on our candidate.
“Since the APC is not comfortable with anyone else handling and organising the debate and since they keep alleging bias on the part of any sensible and impartial organizer, we challenge themto organise the debatethemselves.As long as the debate is live and they will allow our candidate to speak his mind on all issues, without any interruption and without cutting him short, we assure them that we will attend. Our candidates-President Jonathan and his Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo will take up the gauntletand join issues with them anywhere in this country and at anytime as long as the Nigerian people can witness the event live and as long as it is done openly for the world to see.
“We know that they may have a few challenges with the English language; so, if they like theycanevenconduct the debate in vernacular:we would beprepared topay for a translator or an interpreterjust so that they could understand the proceedings.Whenever they want to organise such a debateand wherever they choose as the venue, we will bethere, as long it will be televised live.This is because we believe that under any circumstances and in every situation President Goodluck Jonathan will give Buhari the thrashing of his life in any frank and open discussion about his record in public office.”
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.
