Skip to main content

Ezekwesili, Moghalu, Durotoye Blast Buhari And Atiku For Shunning Presidential Debate

The presidential candidates of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Democracy (ANN), and Young Progressives Party (YPP) have slammed President Muhammadu Buhari (APC) and former Vice 
President Atiku Abubakar (PDP) for shunning Saturday’s presidential debate.

Obiageli Ezekwesili of ACPN, Fela Durtotoye of ANN, and Kingsley Moghalu of YPP, who were at the presidential debate, said the absence of Buhari and Atiku from the debate showed that they and their parties have no regard for Nigerians and lack the answers to critical questions.
Ezekwesili said, “I’m not surprised they are not here. They have just simply announced their exit from the governance of our country.
“I think it is important for us to acknowledge that there is a political class that needs to fade away from our country because the idea that the will of the people will be subordinated to the whims and caprices of our politicians should be a total anomaly and, today, as we in this country focus on the ideas that will develop our country if the two dominant parties cared about the Nigerian people, they would come here in order to have a contest of ideas on how we would fix Nigeria.
“I must let you know that for the Nigerian people, this is a moment to make a clear judgment as to whether we are connected to the issues that matter to the Nigerian people.
“We showed up for this debate not because we are new entrants into politics but because we believe it is time for a new kind of governance in Nigeria.”
For Moghalu, their absence smacked of the arrogance.
He said, “I am not at all surprised that the leaders of the APC and the PDP have decided to turn their back on the people of Nigeria and tell them finally, they never amounted to much in their eyes.
“The reason why they are not here: one is arrogance. They believe the people of Nigeria have no voice and no choice. They believe that you cannot move away from them.
“They believe they have trapped you, they have kept you in bondage for over too long and it is now time for us to send them a message. The second reason why they are not here is because they cannot answer the questions. Very simple, very straight-forward. They belong to the old class of recycled politicians who want to come to power with a sense of entitlement.”
Durotoye stressed that both Buhari and Atiku have set themselves up for a fall.
He said, “Well, it seems that the future is here. Pride always comes before a fall and every time you believe that there is no need to tell the people the things you are going to do, it means you are not there to serve them in the first place; you are going to rule over them.
Like Moghalu, Durotoye said Nigerians should not be surprised by their absence.
“This has been consistent over the last 20 years,” he said. “We have had 20 years of rulership and rulers do not explain to their subject what it is they are going to do. They don’t owe it to them. I think the greatest deceit we have to deal with in this nation is that rulers call themselves leaders and make us, subjects feel like followers. We are not followers, we are subject to them.”
The Nigeria Elections Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria had invited the trio along with Buhari and Atiku for the Presidential debate.
While President Buhari did not show up at all, Atiku showed up at the venue only to leave without participating in the event. He blamed his decision on Buhari’s absence.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ezekwesili: It’s Too Late For Presidential Candidates To Withdraw — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is too late for Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili to withdraw  as presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). According to Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, taking such a step at this time is against the constitution as amended. Mr Oyekanmi said “The deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed”. Oyekanmi said candidates are free to withdraw their candidature but in Ezekwesili’s case the timing is the problem. He said according to section 35 of the electoral act, “you can indicate that willingness not later than 45 days to the General Elections”. The INEC Chairman’s spokesperson noted that in the 2019 schedule of activities, 17th of November 2018 was the last day for withdrawal or replacement of candidates. Mr Oyekanmi further stressed that though Ezekwesili cannot be ...
Post a Comment
READ MORE

FG To Increase VAT – Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, says the Federal Government will increase the Value Added Tax on some items in the course of the year. Some of the items according to her, will include carbonated drinks as well as some luxury items. She stated this on Wednesday at the launch of the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative in Abuja, targeted at improving revenue sources for government. Ahmed said the move had become imperative as a result of the fiscal challenges the government is confronted with in providing infrastructure for its people. She, however, noted that the increment will only be done after due consultation with the National Assembly. “There will be a VAT increase. During the course of 2019, we will have clarity as to which items and what the rate will be and we will have to take a request to the National Assembly for amendment before it takes effect. “There is also going to be luxury tax. Already, there is luxury tax imposed on things like jets, yachts an...
Post a Comment
READ MORE

BREAKING: ACPN Disowns Ezekwesili, Endorses Buhari's Second Term Bid

“It is on this ground that the ACPN is withdrawing support for her presidential aspiration and endorsing the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari to take Nigeria to the next level. We also seek this medium to inform our former presidential candidate, Dr Ezekwesili, to return to the party all the property in her possession, especially the various donations that she has been receiving from all over the world. Whatever she had received belongs to the party and we must render account to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). So, it is mandatory. We are aware of all the accounts she and her aides had opened for this election to which donations were made.” T he Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has taken a contrary position on the reason for the withdrawal of its candidate, Obiageli Ezekwesili, from the 2019 presidential race. Ezekwesili had announced her withdrawal from the race on Thursday morning, stating that her decision was based on her commitme...
Post a Comment
READ MORE