Jonathan Will Showcase Achievements Through Debate-PDP Campaign
Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) said
yesterday that a presidential debate would afford its candidate, President
Goodluck Jonathan, a platform to showcase his record of achievements in
office.
The PDPPCO said it believed that the Nigerian people, who are yet to make
up their minds, would take a decision based on the arguments of candidates
at the debate, stressing that while President Jonathan would be speaking
on his achievements and those things he would do with a renewed mandate,
his major opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari, if he changes his mind to
attend the debate, will only be making empty promises.
Director of Media and Publicity of the Organisation, Chief Femi
Fani-Kayode, who was accosted by journalists in Abuja, said however that a
majority of Nigerians have already taken their decision to vote for
President Jonathan because “they have seen the efforts of this government
and what has been going on for the last four years.”
Fani-Kayode stated that “but for those that are yet to decide and perhaps
for those who are leaning towards Buhari, if we have a live debate and
everybody is allowed to speak his or her mind freely and fairly, I assure
you that by the end of that exercise, General Buhari will be exposed for
what he is and President Jonathan will be able to give the Nigerian people
a glimpse of what he has to offer and also a good account of his records
for the last four years.
“That is why the other side is running away. So, I think at the end of
the exercise, after such a debate, whether APC-organised or whether
organised by anybody else, President Jonathan will come out in flying
colours while General Buhari will come out a very unhappy man.”
He reiterated that the APC, whose candidate does not want to participate
in the debate, should “organise the debate, fill the panel with friends,
set the questions, give copies of the questions to their candidate before
the debate and even prepare answers for him.
“They can do all that; and not only will we still attend but we will also
floor them. We will make any concession in order to have the opportunity
to debate with Buhari and show the Nigerian people how empty and shallow
he (Buhari) really is.”
He continued: “We have stated our position loud and clear that our
candidate is prepared to participate in any debate organised by anybody at
anytime and anywhere in this country provided it is live and provided we
have the opportunity to speak our mind in a free and fair manner.
“It is the other side that is running away from this challenge. One
wonders why. We have absolute confidence in Broadcasting Organisation of
Nigeria (BON) and, indeed, in anybody else to organise the debate.
“As a matter of fact, let me take this opportunity to throw the challenge
to the APC and General Buhari: if it will make him feel more comfortable,
let them organise the debate; let it be an APC-organised debate; let them
have an APC panel; let them have questions that they will show their
candidate even before we get there; we do not need to see the questions;
let them give their candidate a preview of the questions; they can even
have a prepared answer for their candidate to read if he finds it
difficult to articulate his views and positions. We are prepared for all
that.
“Let them have all those advantages and tell us about what they are going
to do. As long as it is a live debate, we will be prepared to go even to
that debate; and, even at that point, under those circumstances, we would
floor General Buhari and the President will do an admirable job by letting
the Nigerian people know precisely what he stands for and he will also
expose General Buhari for what he is.
“So, whatever the circumstances, we are ready to go. The challenge has
been put to them; we are waiting for them to respond. Anywhere, anytime
in this country, we are prepared to participate. It is the other side
that is running away.”
Responding to a question on the allegation of unhidden bias against the
organisers of the BON debate, Fani-Kayode said that the PDPPCO had
complete faith in the organisers.
According to him, “We have complete faith in those that have been
organising this debate; they have been doing it for years and it is an
allegation that is quite baseless. That is precisely why we are saying
that if they are not comfortable with BON or anybody else; then we are
telling you loud and clear that the APC themselves with their party
members organise a debate.
“Let them be the ones to organise it; let them set up the panel; let them
bring out the questions; let them show their candidate the questions
before hand and let them prepare answers to those questions for their
candidate. Let them write it down for him; let them come and we will
still debate with them as long as it is live and as long as our candidate
is allowed to give his answers and as long as he is not cut short.
“As long as they would do that, we are ready to debate with them. Even in
those circumstances, General Muhammadu Buhari would not be able to stand
against President Goodluck Jonathan. They know that; we know that and the
entire country knows that and that is why they are running away.”
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