Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party has expressed displeasure about the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari from a debate at the time Nigerians expected him to give an account of his stewardship in office.
The Director, Media and Publicity, PDP PCO, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, was at the venue of the presidential debate only to discover that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Buhari, was absent at the debate.
According to him, the PDP presidential candidate has insisted on debating with Buhari, adding that he is still ready to meet the President anywhere and anytime for the debate.
Atiku said, “I cut short my trip to the United States and returned to Nigeria because I know that the majority of Nigerians want to listen to me at the debate.
“However, I have come to the venue of the debate. I waited until the beginning of the debate and I cannot find the candidate of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, for whom I have returned from my trip to debate.
“I insist that I will debate President Buhari any day, anytime and anywhere, including the Aso Rock Villa.”
Buhari could not attend the 2019 presidential debate because the programme clashed with his other major activities, according to the spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo said in a statement, “Firstly, out of several opportunities afforded our candidate to interact with the Nigerian people directly by different organisations, our presidential candidate has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organised by another group which held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
“He was also joined at that town-hall meeting by our vice-presidential candidate who is also the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
“Nigerians from all walks of life who were physically present and through on-line platforms asked uncensored questions which were adequately answered. It was also transmitted live by various broadcast networks in Nigeria.
“In addition, the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme. Today, Mr. President commissioned the Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State and campaigned in Niger and Plateau states where his time was overstretched by the tumultuous and mammoth crowds in both states, (as seen by Nigerians on live television) and only returned to Abuja late this evening.”
