Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), withdrew from the presidential debate organised by
Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) on Thursday citing bias for President
Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the Murtala
Muhammed Foundation (MMF) has now presented both men with another opportunity
to face off.
Announcing Buhari’s withdrawal, Garba Shehu, directorate of
media and publicity of the APC presidential campaign organisation, explained
that the boycott was due to the “unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some
key organisers of the programme, against the corporate political interest of
the party (APC) and its candidates”. Shehu argued that the Nigeria Election
Debate Group (NEDG) powered debate was fraught with fundamental errors from the
outset, by wearing the toga of government control, especially being composed
mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
administration. “A salutary inspection of the composition of NEGD brings into
focus the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), National Television
Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Africa
Independent Television (AIT, owned by a PDP chieftain),” he said.
But on Friday, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), in
partnership with CNBC Africa, Forbes Africa and BusinessDay, announced its
plans to host the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the two
frontline political parties, APC and PDP, to live debates to present their
proposed agenda to the electorate. The MMF ‘2015 Presidential Election Debates’
will feature Architect Namadi Sambo, Jonathan’s running mate and his APC
counterpart, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) in the first leg, while Jonathan and
Muhammadu Buhari will go head-to-head in the second leg, Both debates are
scheduled to hold in Abuja, on February 8, 2015.
“The debates have been expressly designed to elevate the
level of political discourse in our country, enhance participatory democracy as
well as re-focus attention on national growth and development during this
election period,”
Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, chief executive officer of the
foundation said. “We believe, at this point in time, that our people should
focus more on issues-based election and critically scrutinise potential leaders
before making up their minds on who they will vote for. “We, along with our
partners, see this debate as a platform for the candidates to present their
programmes so the electorate would make their choice on whom to vote for in the
elections. The need for a debate is non-negotiable given that the development
of democracy in Nigeria has increased voter sophistication.”
Frederic Van de vyver, executive director of CNBC West
Africa, said the debates would attempt to address the major economic issues
facing Nigeria. “We look forward to conducting a robust debate on the major
economic and business issues facing Africa’s largest economy on the eve of one
of the most important elections since the end of military rule in 1999,” he
said. During the debates, the candidates will be asked to outline their general
vision and development agenda for Nigeria on six thematic areas of education,
health, security, job creation, economy, governance, the rule of law and
foreign policy.
The debates will provide opportunity for candidates to spend
quality time with potential voters, as well as offer them a collegial,
conducive and credible platform to showcase their agenda for national
development.
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