Buhari’s Campaign Explains His Absence At Debate, Slams Atiku

PRESS STATEMENT BY APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL:
WHY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI DID NOT ATTEND THE
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIA ELECTION
DEBATE GROUP AND THE BROADCASTING ORGANISATIONS OF
NIGERIA
The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the APC Presidential
Candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election, President
Muhammadu Buhari, could not attend the Presidential Debate
organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group and the
Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria which held today, Saturday,
January 19, 2019 for the following reasons:
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 organized 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, Professor 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 over-
stretched by the tumultuous and mammoth crowds in both States,
(as seen by Nigerians on live television) and only returned to Abuja
late this evening.
Whilst we thank the organisers for the invitation, we want to assure
Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and
Nigerians in high esteem which our candidate has demonstrated
during past election debates when he honoured similar invitations.
Nigerians will also recall that a few weeks ago, our Vice-Presidential
candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also attended the debate organized
by the same organisations.
Lastly, we note the statement of the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji
Atiku Abubakar who actually came for the event and left the venue
when he did not see Mr. President, who is our candidate. According
to him, he would not want to “attack” Mr. President in his absence.
It should now be obvious to Nigerians that for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
and the PDP, this election is all about attacking the person and
programmes of Mr. President and not about proffering their own
solutions to the problems they created during their sixteen years of
misrule, maladministration and looting of the nation’s resources.
When they cannot see President Buhari to attack, the content of
their campaign becomes hollow, empty and “full of sound and fury,
signifying nothing”. Now that Atiku Abubakar had a unique
opportunity to explain to Nigerians his own vision and mission
without a President Buhari in the picture, he ran away. Afterall, he
has his own eight years of crass and grand corruption as Vice
President to defend before the Nigerian people.
On February 16, 2019 we urge Nigerians to demonstrate to Alhaji
Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, through their votes, how empty indeed
their campaign has always been and to vote massively for President
Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN who have
started the rebuilding process of our great nation.
Thank you.
FESTUS KEYAMO,SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director, Strategic Communications,
APC Presidential Campaign Council.
(Official Spokesperson).