In my usual fashion, I shall start by wishing you a good afternoon. Today Sir, we are not going to discuss the existence or whereabouts of your certificate. We would also not discuss your abysmal performance at mathematics. Today we shall discuss your continued decision not to partake in debates you have been invited for. Oga Soldier, I would crave your indulgence to allow me relax from this attenshun stance because as a civilian I cannot hold myself in this pose for long. Thank you sah!
Back to the debates sir, when your people started singing that they would have an ‘issues based campaign’, many of us were jubilant and said ‘yesss oh, PDP has entered one chance’. We were happy that the usual mud slinging during elections would not be entertained and that the APC would out-debate the PDP because your people were ready with their facts, figures and manifestos. We finally stopped expecting that the APC would do reprisal advert attacks on the PDP and its many image tainting adverts even though we thought this was boring.
Oga Soldier, when the APC declined that first debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) on account of the perception that the composition of those organising the debate were mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent administration, we understood what you meant and we were in full agreement with you. We too did not want any mago mago to taint the debate and so, we were prepared to wait.
Today, when we heard that you had declined to participate in another debate, we began to wonder. This debate, organised by another group – the Channels TC, Arise TV, Thisday and Guardian Newspapers on behalf on the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) was scheduled to hold in Abuja but your people said the APC won’t participate on grounds that the debate could be compromised and their inability to vouch for the independence of some of the organisers of the debate.
We had to recheck just to be sure that your people had not done a cut and paste refusal because for some strange reason, the reasons adduced for your refusal to participate in the two debates sounded quite similar. We wonder Sir if this is going to be the refrain which would be sung every time you are invited to a debate or if the mistrust is directed at just these two bodies.
Oga Soldier, please allow us to remind you that in any election against an incumbent, it is normal that he is more connected and your team should have done their homework in preparation for this. By now, you should have read widely and had your facts and figures together. You should have been ready to answer any question no matter how tricky in order to convince those of us whose votes you are clamouring for. Right now, you are sounding as though you do not have confidence in your performance at these debates.
We heard that rather than debate, the APC has decided to have town hall meetings across the nation. Your people have decided to do this because of the need to have person-to-person interactive sessions during which pertinent questions will be posed to the candidates and responses provided.
Oga Soldier, do really think this would work? Do you really think those of us who are undecided would enter ourkabukabu inside the go slow to come and hear you speak? I’m sure even you know that the likeliest people to attend these debates would be your party members and those that have made up their minds to vote for you.
Oga, please permit me to highlight some of the points that you and your team need to consider:
- There are some people who will vote for you only out of a desperate need to see the end of this present administration. For this group, it is not because they like you, it is because you are now affiliated with a strong political party that stands a chance of winning. This group is aware of your past precedence but know that your history of fighting corruption is the best when compared to other Nigerian Leaders. Hence, they would vote for you. It would be good if you could further convince them that their choice is not a bad one by agreeing to a debate.
- You have the ‘disadvantage’ of your past rulership trailing you. Some still insist that you were a dictator during your ’83-’85 administration. Please consider the fact that this debate would earn you cheap points as being liberal and being open minded enough to yield to the desires of the masses
- Take it or not sir, right now you have a credibility issue when it comes to the level of your education and its soundness thereof. Don’t forget that you scored an F9 and that it took a long time before we even saw that result. Consider this debate to be Democracy 101 and show the world that even person nor sabi maths nor mean say he nor get brains. A lot of people, myself included, need you to show them this simple fact.
- Do not assume that there aren’t some votes that a debate would swing to your favour. Remember, every vote counts. Many like me are still undecided about who to vote for. Right now, many of those undecided votes tilt in your favour, another error in your decisions could easily steal those votes away from you. It is better that you act fast!
- Oga soldier, it is pure common sense that a debate would reach a zillion people a lot faster than any town hall can. Most of these debates are sensational and would therefore be broadcast on several stations in real time and truthfully, your town halls cannot match that. As someone who is running for political office, this free advertisement would be great for you or wouldn’t it?
I hope by the time you finish reading the nonsense this useless civilian has written, you would not order me into the guard room to receive some quality discipline. Oh sorry, you can’t do that again because you are now more civilian than soldier. Ntoiii!. Welcome to the other side.
Signed
Unpaid Adviser to the Political Parties of Nigeria
On a serious note, what do you guys think about Oga Soldier’s refusal to debate? Do you think it would do his campaign any good? If you are an APC fan, would his decision not to debate affect his chances with you? Do you think the PDP right in saying he is scared of them?
Over to you, after all, the verdict is yours…
As Seen On: thenaijaverdict.com
