BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima have blamed their hectic campaign schedules for shunning Sunday’s town hall meeting of presidential candidates in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Additionally, they cited the APC’s resolve not to give any Television station preference among others as reasons for their refusal to honour the programme meant to engage all Parties’ flag bearers for the 2023 general elections.
Packaged by Arise Television and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in collaboration with Vanguard Newspapers, Premium Times, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the event featured three presidential candidates.
They are Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples’ Party (NNPP); and Chief Kola Abiola of the Peoples’ Redemption Party, (PRP) while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, currently out of the country, was represented by his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
In a statement on Sunday offering an explanation for Tinubu’s absence at the Forum, the Chief Spokesperson of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Festus Keyamo, stated thus; “Tinubu did not attend the Presidential Debate organised by ARISE TV on Sunday, November 6, 2022, for the following reasons:
“Firstly, many radios and TV networks in Nigeria have indicated interest to host such debates and out of deference to other TV and radio stations, our candidate will not be making selective appearances on some networks, whilst ignoring others. As President of Nigeria, by the Special Grace of God, he intends to treat all persons and businesses fairly and equally.
“Secondly, the busy and hectic campaign schedules of Asiwaju Tinubu will not permit him to honour all such invitations by different radio and TV networks, hence our decision for him not to start with one TV station and later ignore others.
“Thirdly, our candidate had long before now realised the importance of speaking directly to Nigerians and shortly after unfolding his Action Plan as President embarked on Town Hall meetings beginning with his interaction with the Business Community and other stakeholders in Kano followed by the Town Hall meeting and presentation by experts last week in Lagos.
“Tomorrow (Monday), he will be interacting with Agro and Commodity Groups in Minna, Niger State. Whilst we thank Arise TV for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem. Nigerians will hear from our candidates loud and clear through other forums.
“Lastly, out of profound respect for Nigerians, we urge all our party structures and supporters at the grassroots to continue to organise town hall meetings to educate Nigerians on the Action Plan of our candidate as we believe a grassroots approach to reach Nigerians will also be more profound.”
