The concept of pre-election debates has become a component
part of the practice of democracy the world over. It provides a
platform for aspiring political leaders to show case
themselves, their programs and their visions to the electorate.
Conversely, it provides the citizens a window into the mindset
of the candidates, their comportment, their intellect, their
grasp of pertinent issues, and their approach to tackling
burning issues of the day. Pre-election debates are therefore
looked forward to by both the candidates and the electorate
because of the immense mutual advantages and benefits. Pre-
election debates especially in respect of presidential
candidates are particularly popular in the American
electioneering campaign and processes leading to up to
elections. The concept and practice which Nigeria has adopted
from the inception of the ongoing Republic is definitely,
borrowed from the American presidential democracy that we
adopted in 1999. It has been going on since then and
Nigerians have come to regard it as a positive development
which they have embraced.
Why then, should General Muhammadu Buhari and his APC be
running away from availing themselves of the multiple benefits
of the platform of a presidential debate and at the same time,
denying Nigerians the critical opportunity of having insight
into their flag bearer? What are they hiding or, why are they
shielding their man from being exposed at a close range? Is it,
as they are telling us, because, they are not “confident that
the organizers of the debate will do justice” to their
candidate? Or, is it because, like one with a counterfeit
product, they lack the confidence of subjecting their product
for scrutiny? Before we look at the true or likely rational
explanation behind the latest gimmick of the APC, let’s look at
their grounds of rejecting invitation to the debate.
According to an official statement, the APC will not allow
General Buhari to participate in the debate because of its
perceived “unhidden bias and campaign of calumny…,” and
that, the organizers of the debate have, “the toga of
government control”. The Nigerian Election Debate Group,
NEGD, according to the APC “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). And going by the avalanche of
inflammatory statements, misinformation and blatant lies
being propagated by some of these media against our party
and candidates… and the failure of these aggressors to desist
and apologise, have left the APC campaign with no option
than to steer clear of any premeditated smear campaign that
could be inimical to our prospective electoral success”. The
statement further said the APC will not partake in the debate
because of its status of a “party of progressive intellectuals,
genuine technocrats, successful businessmen and women, and
most of all eminent and courteous people of honour, who
would never condescend to the level of sadistic gutter
propaganda, all in the name of political exigency and crass
opportunism,”.
Shame! If the APC consist of “progressive intellectuals” we
should by implication, assume that their flagbearer is similarly,
not, only progressive but also an intellectual! If General Buhari
is so erudite, why is he visibly scared of participating in a
debate? By saying that participating in the debate tantamount
to condescension, do we understand the APC to imply that
talking to the people, allowing them the privilege of incisive
insight into the workings of the mind or mental framework of
General Buhari is a condescending act? In other words, the
APC does not regard the people as deserving their
“condescension” to explain to them what they (the people)
ought to know or demand from them? This snobbish and
contemptuous attitude runs contrary to the universal regard of
the people as supreme in a democratic setting by telling us
the balderdash that participating in the debate is, “inimical to
our prospective electoral success”, the logical interpretation is
that, the APC is seeking to cut corners, avoid passing through
the crucible and other basic rudiments of elections. Because,
they don’t have what it takes to go it the clean, straight
route. Talk of making and omelet without breaking an egg!
Why should anybody conceive participating in a debate as
inimical to the prospect of electoral success of a candidate if,
the candidate does not have skeletons in his cupboard? It is
weird, illogical, strange and unreasonable because, to a
mentally and physically fit candidate, who knows his onions
and is clear-sighted, honest and confident about his mission,
a debate with the opponent should be regarded as an
opportunity that enhances prospects of his electoral success.
The APC has by this, only succeeded in affirming Muhammadu
Buhari’s deficiencies or, is it that the handlers of Buhari are
scared that his frail physical health cannot sustain the stress
of the duration of the debate?
The APC says, by its composition, the NEGD is not capable of
doing justice to its candidate in the debate. The APC however,
has not explained because to all right thinking people that
know how such presidential debates are conducted, it is
inconceivable how the exercise can be skewed to favour or
disfavor a participant. This is because, areas or subjects
around which questions would be asked are conventionally
given to the candidates in advance. Also, in this instance, the
NEGD consists of such reputable bodies such as the Nigerian
Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE,
the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in addition to the media
organizations, institutions and individuals that the APC has
pointed out as reasons for its skepticism. What the APC
clearly appears to be doing is resorting to the infantile pranks
and treachery of shouting wolf where none exists. The point
here is, if the PAC is not comfortable with certain members of
the NEDG on account of alleged proximity to the Jonathan’s
administration, what does the party have against the other
members who are known for their consistent impartiality on
national issues?
In any case, to allay the APC’s stated fears that organizers of
the debate have a tendency to compromise conduct of the
exercise, the party has been advanced the offer of selecting
50% of members of the panelists. Why are they still reluctant
to go into the debate? The clear answer is that the APC will
not have anything to do with a debate that exposes Buhari to
Nigerians. It may interest the public to know that after all, the
APC is not as such, averse to the idea of a debate because,
they will jump at a given opportunity to engage in one, if and
only if, the person that represents the party is any other
person but Buhari. Certainly, the APC will make a volte face,
change its present stance and concede to a debate organized
by the same group they are now castigating, for the running
mates of President Goodluck Jonathan and General
Muhammadu Buhari!
Nigerians are demanding, and General Buhari and APC must
hearken to their demand for a debate between the presidential
candidates. Nigerians want to know the stuff the candidates
are made of beyond the razzmatazz and stage-managed
campaign rallies so far coming from the political parties.
The APC candidate has promised among other lofty goals, to
“revamp the economy within the first year” of his tenure!
Nigerians would want to know how much of the economy he
understands as well as, the modalities for actualizing the
economic blue print contained in the APC manifesto. The
electorate will want General Buhari to articulate his vision on
the strategic sectors of agriculture, education, health, and
power supply, and youth unemployment among others. He has
been chorusing his capability to solve the question of
corruption and it will only be interesting as it is proper and
imperative, that he takes Nigerians into confidence on how he
plans to go about the task. From the debate, he will have
been offered the platform of elucidating to the electorate, the
seeming magic wand he intends to use in stamping out in
“three weeks”, the monster of Boko Haram. Nigerians want to
evaluate his powers of articulation of his vision on pertinent
national and international issues of the day.
As a presidential candidate aspiring to lead them, Nigerians
have the inalienable right to scrutinize his ability to coordinate
not only himself but also of affairs of state of over one
hundred and sixty million people!
•Chief Asara writes from Bayelsa State.
