The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign organisation on Friday lambasted the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shun the presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the PDP said the APC was trying to shield its presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s “intellectual laziness” and “inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues” in a live television and radio debate.
Fani-Kayode said the APC had already expressed its concerns when approached by an unnamed international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of Buhari, and had assured the said news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who had capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.
“We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
“The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.
“Whilst we will not bother ourselves with the many reasons adduced by the APC, we wish to state that we see the APC decision as an attempt to shield its presidential candidate from displaying his intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.
“We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.
“If the APC truly believes that it is a party of progressive intellectuals, as it claims, it should allow Buhari to prove that at the debate.
“Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.
“We are convinced that Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.
“We challenge Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.
“On the other hand, President Jonathan’s running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo, is also ready to participate in the debate and any other debate.
“Our presidential candidate and his running mate will not raise flimsy and escapist excuses such as ‘unhidden bias’ and the like, since we believe that they are well-rounded intellectuals who have been prepared by their experience in office to answer any question under the sun on the governance of our nation.”
