The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have urged Nigerians not to vote for presidential candidates who have things to hide from them by refusing to honour media debates.
The organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, said this in an interview with journalists in Enugu State, according to SaharaReporters.
He stated that invitations to debates should be honoured by candidates so as to prove to Nigerians their sincerity to serve.
Ogbonnia said, “Public scrutiny is an important aspect of a democracy. It involves examining how the candidate talks, his ability to convince people by responding to questions, his intuitive capacity, and his intriguing power.
“These things are very important. It helps us to know every aspect of the candidate before we vote. No candidate should shy away from it. Anyone who does so has something to hide. Nigerians should not accept it.
“Debate is not compulsory, but it is essential. The same way campaigns are not also compulsory. During debates, the people will understand the level a candidate flows. Ability to communicate is very important in public life.”
Since he emerged winner at the All Progressive Congress presidential primary election in June, Bola Tinubu has not appeared on any TV or radio interview programme like his counterparts.
In some public functions like the Annual Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association, he sent his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima to represent him.
Also, The presidential town hall debate which was organized by Arise TV, which was expected to be attended in person by the presidential candidates, the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party attended in person, while, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party was represented by his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and Tinubu neither attended nor sent any representative.
