By Reuben Abati
The last time Nigerians enjoyed something really close to an exciting Presidential debate was during the 1993 Presidential elections. I recall the colourful and memorable encounter between the late Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. At the end of that debate, it was clear who among the duo was better experienced, much more intellectually capable and more endearing to the electorate in terms of readiness for the job being applied for. That is what a debate, under these circumstances, is: it is a job interview.
The entire country is the panel and whereas actual measurement of impact may be tentative, especially in a developing country where there are challenges of illiteracy and access to mass media, the performance of the candidates ordinarily reshapes the conversation and can significantly influence voters’ choice. Unfortunately, in the lead up to this year’s Presidential elections, it seems certain that voters will be denied this opportunity for comparison, assessment, interaction, not to talk of the excitement and drama.
The man to blame for this denial is General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Getting him to debate the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been an uphill task. To say that the man is scared, practically running away from an opportunity to debate his ideas against the incumbent’s, is to be charitable. He doesn’t want it. Every effort to get him to the podium has been rebuffed by him and his handlers.
President Jonathan received, ahead of the INEC rescheduling of the dates for the 2015 elections, two requests for a Presidential debate. The President enthusiastically accepted and looked forward to both debates. But General Buhari was not interested. There is no gainsaying the fact that President Jonathan and General Buhari are the main contenders in this election. Every Nigerian would love to see the two of them debate. That would be good for our democracy.
The first group that approached President Jonathan was represented by John Momoh of Channels TV; Emeka Izeze of The Guardian, and Nduka Obaigbena of ThisDay, Arise TV and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria. They said they were in talks with the APC. They needed us to agree to a debate. We checked our campaign schedule, and since Sundays were left free for review meetings and further consultations, we suggested that a Sunday date would be most convenient for us. That was when the drama began. The would-be organisers soon informed us that General Buhari did not want a debate on a Sunday, because according to him “he does not work on Sundays.”
I thought that was rather odd. President Jonathan works every day. The job of a President is a round-the-clock, all-year-round engagement. If a Sunday date would be inconvenient, may be a Monday then. Feedback from the Buhari camp: Monday was not okay either. Eventually, the contact persons reported that a Tuesday date had been agreed upon. This coincided with a day when we were supposed to have rallies in two states of the North. Nonetheless, President Jonathan directed that he will keep the date, and that rallies for the day should be fast-tracked. We adjusted our schedule and intensified preparations for the Jonathan encounter with Buhari.
Two days to this debate that would have been, I received non-stop frantic calls from the troika of Momoh, Izeze and Obaigbena. There had been a development, they said. The fresh development was that they had met that same evening with General Buhari and he did not agree anymore to a debate with President Jonathan. Rather, he wanted a town hall meeting, in which he would be the sole participant. Another town hall meeting could be organized the same day for President Jonathan and both could be aired back to back. That was his request and wish. Momoh and Co wanted the President to agree to this.
They’d rather have the two candidates say something on whatever platform than say nothing at all. The President’s response was that a town hall meeting is not the same as a debate. He wanted a face-to-face debate with General Buhari. He also told Messrs Momoh, Izeze and Obaigbena that if he wanted a town hall meeting, he could always ask his Presidential Campaign Organization to arrange it. And General Buhari was in a position to organize his own town hall meeting as well. Should there be a change of mind and an opportunity for a proper debate, he, Jonathan, would be available at the shortest notice. We haven’t heard from the trio since then.
One of Buhari’s spokesmen later announced that he was pulling out of that particular debate because the organisers had been “compromised” by government and the integrity of the debate platform they were offering was therefore doubtful! Questions: The same media houses that grant APC disproportionate amount of attention, and which they patronize to push their propaganda? And who are the media managers on the APC side questioning the integrity of their old-time comrades, and one-time fellow hunters just so they could be seen to be committed? I leave these posers to the well-known parties involved to sort out among themselves, as they surely will when all of this is over.
The second group that invited us to a debate was the Nigeria Elections Debate Group, anchored by veteran journalist Taiwo Alimi in conjunction with a few media houses. The NEDG has been organizing election debates since 1999, and has been so successful that it has been invited to do the same thing in other West African countries. The Buhari camp again rejected this invitation on the grounds that the media houses involved were pro-government and therefore partisan.
But of course, the puerile protestations of Buhari’s handlers are meaningless. A debate is what it is: an intellectual duel requiring skills, knowledge, comportment and the ability to persuade the listener. The medium may even be far less important than the message and the messenger. I have no doubt that Buhari’s handlers have enough sound knowledge of this elementary truth, but they are insecure. Each time they are asked to produce their candidate for a debate, they invent a ridiculous reason.
Obviously, General Buhari seems to be afraid of engaging every other Presidential candidate. He needs to be reminded that a Presidential debate will not require him to work out on a treadmill, or jog the distance, or recite the national pledge, or spell his running mate’s name. President Jonathan was and is ready. With Buhari fleeing the arena with his tails between his legs, there were suggestions that the President could end up debating other candidates from “smaller parties”, but he waved this aside, insisting that every candidate is important. As it then turned out, INEC rescheduled the election dates just the night before and the NEDG group on their own, postponed the debate.
It is worrisome that any Presidential candidate will shy away from a debate out of timidity and fear of inadequacy. And yet a President’s work is one of perpetual debate. He will have to chair meetings, where ideas will be expressed and he must understand what works and may not. He will attend international meetings where he is expected to contribute to discussions, often in the format of a debate. Without that ability to assimilate, process and discuss ideas, nobody should be trusted with even the management of a local council not to talk of the whole of Nigeria. A debate also provides a candidate at this level, an opportunity to communicate his vision of leadership, and to explain to the electorate in his own voice, why he deserves their vote.
General Buhari needs to come out of his comfort zone and undertake this test. He has been campaigning on the issues of security yet his supporters preach hate and violence. He talks about the economy yet he couldn’t at a town hall meeting differentiate between the excess crude account and the foreign reserve. He projects himself as an anti-corruption angel yet he is surrounded by a large crowd of morally conflicted persons; to worsen it all, he doesn’t even know the name of his own running mate. When he grants interviews, his responses are cryptic and elliptic, demonstrating such shallowness that confuses an informed audience.
His deliberate avoidance of a Presidential debate is akin to an act of examination malpractice. It is not good enough for a man who wants to be President of our country. He is short-changing the Nigerian electorate by denying them the opportunity of assessing him properly in an open debate. While a Presidential debate is not a constitutional requirement, it is an established convention that deepens and enriches the democratic process.
President Jonathan is ready to meet him in an open debate, any day, any hour, and at any venue of his choice. We invite General Buhari to take up the challenge.
Abati is President Jonathan’s official spokesman and media adviser.
And He Doesn't want To, Na By Force??
ReplyDelete.
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.NOTE: Raise Your Words, Not Your Voice. It Is Rain That Grows Flowers, Not Thunder..
BLOG ANALYSER: Who cares?
DeleteI wonder o!
DeleteY pdpigs no just debate with other contestants knowing Buhari's absence might hurt his campaign?Atleast that's what they've been working frantically towards unless there's a sinister plan
I don't want to hear all dos there political blunder
DeleteAbi o, let him be. If the debate was compulsory and he refused, then we'll have reasons to talk and complain.
Delete*Wide yawn*
ReplyDeleteSL please! I need to crack.
Big lies. Haba, Reuben Abati fear God o. The man only refused a debate when it was clear that the PDP were the orchestrators of the debate. Who would agree to such??? Abegy
DeleteVery funny comment. If you're gonna judge the ex despot on his deeds during his junta then he should be ashamed to even be gunning for leadership again in this country. Whether the interview is arranged by this administration or not, a smart person shouldn't be afraid of an exam whether the exam is set by his/her teacher or not as far as it's set from a syllabus. The syllabus in question here is Nigeria, you said you have the solution, so why get scared on your solutions! Is the debate gonna ask him questions on Cambodia or Bermuda Triangle? Is it not on Nigeria you want to rule? Making a lame excuse on media houses is very childish and pedestrian. If you don't know it you don't know it! No matter where the questions comes from! If you eventually win, which obviously seem most unlikely, will you exclude the purported "loyal media houses"? Won't you rule the whole Nigeria including the media houses. If you go to an interview and you think you're smart enough for an interview, would you because you felt the interviewers know your fellow applicant and not go for the interview. If your confident with your self and believe you've got it, you will want to go and flaw your fellow applicant irrespective of "who the interviewers" are purportedly! If your smart you're smart you're smart, if you're "brain dead" and wants power for the purpose of having power, that's just what it is! At the end it's the whole Nigeria you're gonna lead not only people loyal to you
DeleteAbati should keep his mouth shut. When Yaradua declared his assets publicly after he was sworn in, in 2007, his vice, GEJ bluntly refused to tow the lane of his boss and he was not forced or pushed to do so .....and till date, GEJ never declared his assets publicly. So, they should leave GMB alone....if he says he is not interested in a public debate, so be it!
DeleteBTW, why is Abati not calling on candidates from other parties for a debate? Why is Buhari's case giving them so much headache and sleepless nights?Make una no kill una sef on top Buhari matter ooo
And to think Buhari showed up for a debate in 2011 while GEJ refused to show up......now, the tables have been turned, they are crying like a bereaved person. What is good for the goose may be good for the gander too.
DeleteThey should take GMB's excerpts from d 2011 debate and merge it with the one GEJ is ready to do this year....LOBATAN!!!
Abati, be careful what you put out there, so you dont end up like Reno Omokiri. Nigerians have not forgotten how ur boss played it out in 2007 and 2011, so you better dont give the opposition more points to talk about.
All d same #teamGEJ
Anon 14:55...may Jah bless ur soul. I had finished typing and posting my comment when I remembered that during the last elections GEJ stood GMB up by not turning up for debate. Thank u for this comment and for reminding the naysayers of their earlier blunder. No one can distort facts.
DeleteMeanwhile I remain non partisan. Hard to believe? You bet. Me I am just for whoever God appoints to savage whatever is left of my dear country.
Nigeria go survive
GMB should do a debate already, the call for it is too much.
ReplyDeleteI still repeat and will always say it, Buhari cannot rule this country again, Jonathan is winning again. APC supporters should start getting ready for a huge shock, Buhari was not a good option for APC they would have gotten a better candidate not Buhari
ReplyDeleteExactly...
DeleteO ga eme ha vum na Anya...
Can't wait...
You will all be shocked when the results come in.meanwhile,'queen', you are so razzzzz.God forbid!
DeleteBuhari is scared of debate,his just too despirate to rule.i doubt if he will smell Aso rock
ReplyDeleteHe wont...
DeleteThis is his last chance which he will loss again and cry like 2011.
DeleteEfe take some English lessons. TF is despirate!
DeleteNa by force? Leave buhari alone and go to the polls, let nigerians and God decide our fate as a nation
ReplyDeleteAbati is a shameless man.Did GhimEJ agree to come to any debate in 2011? He snubbed every debate he was invited to.Guess it's time for him to get a dose of his own medicine.Pls.know this, we are not electing GMB to speak English at a debate.We want to elect him on his strength of character & integrity.Your man can go debate with himself. Mtcheeew!
ReplyDeleteAbati is a shameless man.Did GhimEJ agree to come to any debate in 2011? He snubbed every debate he was invited to.Guess it's time for him to get a dose of his own medicine.Pls.know this, we are not electing GMB to speak English at a debate.We want to elect him on his strength of character & integrity.Your man can go debate with himself. Mtcheeew!
ReplyDeleteWHO IS BUHARI? (1) stole 2.8 billion (now over 400b) oil money as Oil Min. 1978. Saraki Committee traced it from Midland Bank London to Buhari's acct. But he overthrew that govt to keep the loot. (2) seized 53 suitcases of cash intercepted by Atiku 1984. (3) Said moslems should vote only moslems (Wkly Trust, 29/6/01, p. 1). (4) Said he would impose islamic law (see d source above) at Sharia book launch at Sokoto, SCIA progr at Zaria, and Chatham House last wk. (5) Buhari was nominated by Bokoharam as their lead negotiator (6) said attack on BH is attack on the north (7) warned FG to stop killing BH. (8)killd or jailed jnalists who exposed govt corruption under Decree 4. (9)killed Ogedengbe & co for no offence (10) killed Gladys Iyama wrongfully (11)promised to conquer areas outside jihad Jos, Taraba, Benue, etc. (12) 1000 killed by his boys in 2011(13) stopped Peter Onu and supported Idi Umar frm Niger Rep 4 OAU Sec-Gen. Has never supported any nonFulani, nonMoslem. (14)G. Patron of "Miyeti Allah". Etc, etc
DeleteHaba fear God nah ,he stole 2.8 billion .Abeg try talk true ,this lie no be am at all.
DeleteAhahah I dey laugh oo. If we had to start catching thieves, I guarantee u that GEJ would be their ambassador to kirikiri
DeleteWhen Buhari was ready 4 years ago, why did Jonathan
ReplyDeleterefuse? I smell desperation in Jonathan's camp. Shio.
happy international women's day wonderful women.
Hian wat is he running from kwa? He should go for this debate and prove evryone wrong..dis election thing should just come n go abeg
ReplyDeleteYou people should leave GMB alone...it is not a constitutional requirement like you clearly stated,so why all the fracas over GMB not particiapting?he doesn't want to,and you can't make him..
ReplyDeleteHis supporters and those willing to vote for him can't wait for march 28,debate or no debate..
Since you people said he is an uneducated man and cannot represent nigeria,why don't you let him be?
GEJ with all his PHD failed woefully..
Buhari might not have a polish accent but he is intelligent..oh yes..
In my opinion,GEJ is not eloquent,he's no better than GMB..
Am not a GMB loyalist,but thing is,come may 29,we need capable hands to take the reins...
All I seek is change..be it from a bus conductor or GMB...
Change is inevitable..
PDP let sleeping dogs lie..
Gbam!
DeleteClueless comments
DeleteSpot on!!
DeleteSpot on!!
DeleteVery "CLUEFULL" (if there's anyword as such)....SO ON POINT!
DeleteVery "CLUEFULL" (if there's anyword as such)....SO ON POINT!!!
Deletethey are relentless on this debate matter. may the leader God has chosen for us carry the day. do your part everyone & vote. I don't understand it when I hear people say they are not going to vote & alot, a lot of them are saying they won't. Are people that disenfranchised? do your bit people, do your bit!
ReplyDeletekindly click on my name to visit my blog....
We will still vote for him with or without a debate .you are so quick to forget the last time I checked GEJ refused to go for debate in 2011 Abeg oo SAI BUHARI
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS GETTING OLD ABEG. WE ALL KNOW THE CANDIDATE OF OUR CHOICE.
ReplyDeleteati gbo next?
ReplyDeletena by debate?
Silence is the best answer for a fool
ReplyDeleteSo why did you comment?
DeleteI agree
ReplyDeleteWhy won't theses people leave buhari alone sef...na by force? ......Stella u must enjoy me
ReplyDeleteStella please you must not enjoy this lesbian.
DeleteIt is not by force to debate. Reuben Abati and GEJ should go and debate with other presidential candidate in as much it is not a criteria for winning election. Why is PDP so particular about Buhari? He is giving them a run of there money now and they are looking for ways to pull him down. Rueben and his cohort should go and cover there eyes in shame.Heaven did not fall when GEJ did not debate in the last election, let Buhari be.
ReplyDeleteAbati is a big fool,we are not debating just like Gej didn't debate in 2011, go Fuck yourself Ngozi should be the one debating with soludo
ReplyDelete#GMB take up the challenge and have the presidential debate. Surprise us
ReplyDeleteIs Buhari the only Presidential candidate after GEJ? Why focus on only him?
ReplyDeleteThe same clowns calling Buhari for Debate now forgot their GEJ declined to debate in 2011. They obviously backed his stance the. If Christian Amanpour will moderate it fine other wise all of you should go sit down. Foolish people you should be pleased GMB has declined as he would further revealed how School certificate of 1960s is much better than PHD of now.
ReplyDeleteAbati the turncoat, this is the same person that used to write respectable articles in Guardian then. Shamelessness personified. All the money in the whole wide world, not a kobo will follow anyone anywhere. People who have sold their conscience for mammon whilst poor people are struggling day in day out. He should please go take a seat!
ReplyDeleteA man's real character comes to bear when he is in power. This is the story of Abati. He is now in government, so he is loyal to his paymaster.
ReplyDeleteThese guy will not stop diminishing GEJ. A whole General will be shy from a debate and fear of inadequacy. If u can fathom what it takes to be a general, u will have little respect for Nigeria Army. Anyway what they are eating has entered their brain
ReplyDeleteSisi Eko shut the fuck up.
ReplyDeleteCoco, you should STFU. Sisi said d truth.
DeleteAhahah wetin happen??? See painment oooo.. torr torrr... shut the fuck up kor. Yinmu.
DeleteIf only u know that u cannot silence me no matter what u do or say.. if u like open 20 blog names with sisi eko, it won't deter me. Eheheh. anonymous don't mind this thing jare..
**tongue out**
GBAM!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere was gej in 2011, looking for ways to fault GMB. Be gone already abata (meaning in Yoruba is........?)
ReplyDeleteChinyelu okenyeka, 1000 likes for your presentation.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 12.57pm, 1000 likes for your comment. Am not particularly interested in GEJ but I don't like the despot in anyway cos of what he represents.
C'est fini
ReplyDelete