Buhari Yet To Make Up His Mind Over Presidential Debate — Presidency

Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

With less than three weeks to the
presidential debate, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to take a
decision on whether he would take part in the debate slated for January
19 by the Nigeria Election Debate Group.

There has been
speculation that the president would be represented by his deputy, Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo, a position which has been rejected by the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking with Daily
Independent on Thursday, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, said the president was yet to make up his mind
on whether or not to appear at the debate.

He said Nigerians would be informed in due course when the president takes decision on this.

“When
it gets to that decision, Nigerians will know what his decision is. We
will surely cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.

However,
the PDP, in its reaction, said its presidential candidate, Atiku
Abubakar, was ready to debate with President Buhari in any location he
chooses, even if it was inside Aso Villa.

Kola Ologbondiyan, the
party’s National Publicity Secretary, said the PDP would also not accept
the idea of the president sending a representative to stand for him at
the debate.

According to him, if the president was present during
the signing of the peace accord convened by the National Peace
Committee under the chairmanship of the former head of state,
Abdulsalami Abubakar, two weeks ago, he should also attend the debate
where he would reel out his achievements and tell Nigerians why they
should vote him for another term.

“President Buhari must participate at the debate. It is he that our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, wants to debate with.

“So,
it matters to us that he attends the debate and not send in a
representative. We are insisting that President Buhari must come in
person.

“Those saying he needs not attend the debate are running
away from reality. We are ready to debate with him even inside Aso
Villa.

“Wherever he chooses, we will meet him there and
debate with him. Our own is that he should come out personally for the
debate and not send in a representative.

“The organisers of the debate know the reason why they set it up and they have invited him and other presidential candidates.

“If
he can attend the Peace Pact, then he should be able to attend the
presidential debate where he will tell Nigerians his achievements so far
and why they must vote for him for another term in office,” he said.

It
would be recalled that Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the
Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), on Wednesday
said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo could represent President Muhammadu
Buhari at the presidential debate if that was what the Federal
Government wanted.

Speaking with Daily Independent, Sagay said
the debate was not about eloquence but what the political parties had to
offer the country if elected.