PDP slams Buhari for rejecting another debate

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The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, has condemned the refusal of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in live television debates with President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the decision shows contempt for Nigerians.

The campaign organisation, in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the decision by Mr. Buhari to shun another debate organised by the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, and Channels Television was despicable, and called on Nigerians to ensure the rejection of the APC candidate at the poll as a just recompense for his action.

According to the PDP campaign group, “We have been informed that General Buhari and the APC have decided not to participate in the NPAN-CHANNELS Television-organised debate after they had earlier agreed to take part in it.

“We had thought that having withdrawn from participating in the debate organised by Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), they would have availed themselves this second platform.

“Now that they have also turned their back on this, it is now very clear that General Buhari is incapable of engaging in rigorous live television debates on the issues of governance. It speaks about his intellectual laziness and his loss of touch with contemporary issues of development and statecraft.

“We would like to reiterate that the APC has something to shield about General Buhari. He has campaigned in some states of the federation attacking President Jonathan’s handling of insurgency, corruption and economy. Now there is a platform on which both candidates can engage each other on these issues and he (Buhari) is running away.

“It is a disgrace to the APC and their candidate that they would treat everybody with contempt. The organisers of the debates are interested in promoting a robust culture of debates so that people can listen to the candidates and make informed choices on the basis of their arguments.

“We call on Nigerians to express their displeasure with General Buhari and the APC by rejecting them at the poll. This will be a just recompense for treating the Nigerian people and electorate with disdain.”