Friday, 04 March 2011 00:00 Muideen Olaniyi
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[President Goodluck Jonathan]
President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan may not participate in the presidential debate to be organised by the NN24 and its associate as his representative tactfully refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the event which is to be televised live on March 8 and 15.
However representatives of the three of the four leading presidential candidates in the upcoming April general elections signed the agreement on behalf of their principals. They are: Osita Okechukwu for Gen Muhammad Buhari (rtd) of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Sule Yau Sule for Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Ibrahim Modibbo for Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The representative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, however refused to sign the MoU.
He said he was at the occasion with the hope of attending a press briefing, explaining that he could not sign the MoU because he does not know the content and has not discussed with his principal.
Daily Trust gathered that the action may not be unconnected with reports in the media that said President Jonathan’s representative was demanding for advance debate questions as a precondition for participating in the event.
Reacting on the development, the Founder/Chief Executive of NN24, Anthony Dara, apologised for any embarrassment which the said publication might have caused.
Dara said the March 1 meeting in Abuja with representatives of the ACN, ANPP, CPC and PDP was in furtherance of NN24’s quest to host a neutral Presidential Debate among the four leading candidates.
He said “that at the said meeting, all parties asked questions about the format and manner in which the debate would be conducted”, adding that “NN24 and Associates wishes to urge all parties to refrain from misrepresentations and slanted reporting of events going forward”.
When asked to clarify the remarks made by Dr Okupe, he said the occasion was not a press conference but rather an avenue to sign a document that provides ground rules for the debate which was discussed at the earlier meeting. He added that the media report on their earlier meeting led to the issuance of the press release which he read.
He promised to reach out to the representatives of the PDP to ensure that all the leading presidential candidates were involved, stressing that the debate was aimed at providing a platform to promote nation building and to give opportunity for the candidates to sell their programmes.
“We want to set standards. We have a platform with a wide reach. We are seen across the continent. We have a footprint on our satellite system across the nation. We are on DSTV. And on this special broadcast, every broadcast and media company is free to take the signal off DSTV. So our programme is readily available to anyone. This debate will also be live on the internet. It is going to be on Sky in Europe. It will be viewed across Europe. We will field in the signals via broadcast and World TV in the United States. This platform is unique because on that very day, there is going to be worldwide broadcast,” Dara said.
The Director of Media and Communication for Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation Modibbo appealed to President Jonathan to also avail himself of the opportunity provided by the debate as the first Phd holder as President of Nigeria. “Let him (Jonathan) make the difference. He is an educated man. Let him come. We challenge him. Let him not run away from a debate,” he added.
The Presidential Debate, which is strictly by invitation, will hold on March 8 at Eko Hotel in Lagos and March 15 at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
The debate for all the Vice Presidential candidates will hold on March 11 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. All the events are scheduled to hold between 6 p.m and 9 p.m.
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