The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has drawn flake from Nigerians over his absence at the Presidential Debate organised on Saturday by the Nigerian Election Debate Group, NEDG and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON.
Taking to his twitter handle, Atiku, who put in an appearance at the venue of the debate, said he left because he couldn’t challenge President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, in his absence.
In one of his tweets, he said: “We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend his policies.”
His tweets did not however go down well with some of his followers on twitter who felt he had slighted Nigerians who had looked forward to listening to him speak at the debate as well as missing an opportunity to sell himself to the Nigerian voters.
He alongside Buhari were also not spared by the other debaters who saw their absence as a show of arrogance and disregard for the Nigerian electorate.
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Below are some of the reactions from twitter.
JohnsynMD@jonsyndon said, “With all due respect, this is a flimsy excuse. Debate isn’t meant to attack anybody, it’s meant for you to showcase n enlighten us on your plans for Nigeria so as to convince us . U aren’t different from @Buhari the absentee. It’s high time we learn doing things the proper way @APCNigeria @OfficialPDPNig @channelstv.”
Peter Ayomuyiwa Ayabi @PeterAyabi, “Are you there to attack or present your plans for Nigeria..”
Orogbangba Ayomuyiwa Bashorun, “Na @ChelseaFC need attacker.”
Collins Toluwase@TOLUCOLLINS,”So the goal was to attack your opponent not to prove yourself to us.”
Thelma Benson@ThelmaBenson16, “While I agree with you on this I also feel sir that this would have been a vantage point for you if you had shown up regardless to show Nigerians that you are a leader by example and has Nigeria as your priority.”
Olayemi Omoloja@yemiredd, “Nah! You miss the point sir. The debate isn’t about “attacking” the incumbent rather, it’s about you selling yourself to the electorate. If the only weapon you have in your arsenal is “Attack” and not “Ideas” then..
“You should aim to push forward your manifesto, not roforofo fight.”
Mide@Midecrypto, “Imagine travelling all the way back home and getting to a venue you are now saying you chickened out because of buhari’s absence. Are you not meant to be at the debate to present yourself and ideas if any to the electorate?? What has that got to do with buhari.”
