Why Buhari Must Debate! By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Permit me to use this medium to wish you all a Happy New Month. February 2015 has been declared; the month of change. This is a certainty and the people are determined to see this change come through.

Last week, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed confidence, that her presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan would defeat the main opposition party, All Progressive Congress’s (APC) Candidate; General Muhammadu Buhari, in the North, in a landslide victory come February 14th, 2015. This was said during their re-election campaign rally in Kaduna.

Although, aside from the reasons they give, that is; being that their party governs more states in the northern part of the country than the opposition party and due to the achievements of the President in the agricultural sector and in building of almajri schools, I do not think there is any other tangible reason for this claim. The statistics that ended up giving them such confidence remains unclear to me but I would like to advice them to go back to the black table, to check and re-validates their methods correctly.     While I remind them, that, it is the same northern part of the country that the president will win in a landslide victory that had his convoy and election team petted with stone and other items, not once not twice but thrice by aggrieved citizens, in Bauchi, then Kastina and Taraba.

Also, Kano that has the highest population in the north is being governed by the opposition party (APC). Furthermore, you only need common sense to know that those three states in the north eastern part of the country that is vigorously faced with insurgency would like to taste change to see if it would work for them.

Well, that’s by the way. I just actually wants the PDP to wake up from their slumber because it is morning already.

Meanwhile, in less than two weeks the presidential election would be conducted across the country and as recently adopted, not without a debate. The Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG), in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) has scheduled the Presidential debates for February 8, 2015. However, The APC Presidential Campaign Organization announced on Thursday that its candidate would not participate in the debate organized by Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) because the organizers are supporters of the PDP. Also, The APC accused the organizers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organizers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

But the truth is, whether or not those allegations are genuine, General Buhari should debate because it is just the right thing to do.

This will give him the opportunity to once again air his views, mission, strategies and plans for the people. The point is; you have to get people listening before you can change their minds.

Also, the debate will give him the opportunity to correct those misconceptions and blackmails against him.

In addition, it will go to a long way to show to the people, especially the presidency that he is not like President Jonathan that boycotted the debates in 2011 for flimsy excuses.

If General Buhari fails to debate because President Jonathan didn’t debate in 2011 for similar reasons or because of other reasons surrounding the organization of the debate, then he does not in any way differ from the President.

Moreover, the debate will give him a good opportunity to say to the world that he is prepared for leadership; to tolerate criticism, abuse, correction, and other allegations against him. It will also show that he is not weak and can withstand antagonism.

I wish to emphasize that General Buhari attempting to avoid the debate is a wrong signal and in a way passing a wrong message to the world.

As much as the people are yearning and keen on change, they would also like to see the General debates on crucial issues that are facing the countries and how he intends to address them if elected.

Hence, I would want the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate; General Buhari to go for the debates, to prove his critics wrong, to tell the world who he real is and what he has to offer then leave the rest for the people to judge.

God Bless Nigeria

Ogundana Michael Rotimi

I tweet @MickeySunny