The PDP presidential campaign group has
condemned Gen. Buhari for refusing to participate in
yet another presidential debate, this one organized
by Channels TV in conjunction with ARISE TV and
NPAN. A statement was signed by the party’s
presidential campaign spokesman, Femi Fani Kayode
“We have been informed that General Buhari and
the APC have decided not to participate in the
NPAN-Channel Television-organised debate after
they had earlier agreed to take part in it. We had
thought that having withdrawn from participating
in the debate organised by Broadcasting
Organisation of Nigeria (BON), they would have
availed themselves this second platform. Now that
they have also turned their back on this, it is now
very clear that General Buhari is incapable of
engaging in rigorous live television debates on the
issues of governance.
It speaks about his intellectual laziness and his
loss of touch with contemporary issues of
development and statecraft. We would like to
reiterate that the APC has something to shield
about General Buhari. He has campaigned in
some states of the federation attacking President
Jonathan’s handling of insurgency, corruption and
economy. Now there is a platform on which both
candidates can engage each other on these issues
and he (Buhari) is running away. It is a disgrace to
the APC and their candidate that they would treat
everybody with contempt.
The organisers of the debates are interested in
promoting a robust culture of debates so that
people can listen to the candidates and make
informed choices on the basis of their arguments.
We call on Nigerians to express their displeasure
with General Buhari and the APC by rejecting
them at the poll. This will be a just recompense
for treating the Nigerian people and electorate
with disdain”
