Home » Anthony A. Kila, Columnists, Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), NNP Columnists, Presidency » Notes on 2011 Presidential Debate – By Anthony A. Kila

Notes on 2011 Presidential Debate – By Anthony A. Kila

By Anthony A. Kila, London, UK – March 31, 2011 – The recently concluded presidential debate has taken discussions about the forth-coming general elections in Nigeria to a different and interesting dimension. Overall, the event was well organised, well attended and more importantly very followed and now widely discussed. Thanks to the internet, and other form of technologies such as the satellite, Nigerians within and beyond the country continue to watch and  talk about the debate face to face, via telephone conversations, through text messages and as predictable, the internet abounds with comments and judgments about the debate and the candidates.

The areas of discussions are mainly two: the content of the debate i.e what happened during the debate and the format of the debate i.e. its organisation. Let us start with the format.

The debate was held in Abuja and it was organised and televised by a new satellite TV station, NN24. Some media practitioners and observers seem to have some reservations on why it was a cable TV with foreign affiliations that is organising and televising the Nigerian presidential debate. One of the most articulate of such voices is that of a former director of the NTA. In his own words “We don’t have any business in asking CNN to organise our debate. We have attained manhood in the journalism profession.  The transmission was nice, no doubt. I am talking about patriotism not because maybe NTA is better than NN24. We need to do what is ours”.  Let us say without mincing words that such reasoning is wrong. What should really matter to us as voters and consumers of information is that the transmission was nice, objective and informative regardless of who organised it.  Whilst we are at it, let us add that the one of the reasons why private and international TV stations now thrive in Nigeria is because stations like the NTA are losing what is left of their capacity to inform, entertain and educate. 

Just like our schools, hospitals, electric power authorities, the state owned and managed ones are not working and Nigerian citizens are forced to turn to the private sector for education, health and electricity. I am sure the former director of the NTA and those that reason like him will not take their loved ones to the generally badly managed and underperforming schools and hospitals or refuse to use generators at home and in their offices to prove their patriotism. I have some information for them: most Nigerians are exactly like them. News and information generally, is essential in the world we live in today and nobody in their right senses will blindly rely on an NTA or any other station incapable of providing objective, plural, engaging and informative news.  

If we have attained manhood in the journalism profession, let us prove it by practising it. Let us do news programmes and investigative journalism that the rest of the world will want to affiliate with.

As for what happened during the debate, the most deafening sound came from the silence produced by the absence of our incumbent President and PDP presidential candidate, Dr. Jonathan. The unoccupied empty podium with its available but unused microphone reserved for our president turned his absence into an unbearable presence.   Dear Mr President, public debates constitutes both a symbolic and practical fundamental parts of any election because it is the only chance where voters get to place candidates and their ideas side by side in order to make an informed choice. Debates are also a symbolic democratic ritual that shows candidates have respect for and are accountable to voters; always make sure you attend.

The ANPP candidate, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was clearly the best performer during that debate; he came across as articulate, informed and persuasive. His best moments came when he spoke like a middle class professional that appreciates information and planning. He has gained some popularity overnight and with that comes more curiosity and scrutiny over his past, his party, his team and his vision for Nigeria. We shall see how he copes.

The debate also confirmed what we already know of the CPC candidate: the General is a good man but certainly not an orator. General Muhammadu Buhari came across in that debate as a mature statesmanlike candidate that understands the core issues and is familiar the terrain and its complexities. Luckily for him, most people believe corruption and indiscipline are the main problem in Nigeria and they trust he can do it. He needs someone to speak for him.  

Although he fought like a lion, it was not a great debate for the ACN candidate Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Of course starting your debate by having to deny what most people think you said does not help matters. Ribadu appeared passionate and full of hope but restless and lacked presidential aura. Let us face it Ribadu is not Obama when it comes to speech and personality at least not yet so he needs to focus on his other strengths.

The clear winners of the debate were democracy and Nigerian voters and observers.

xosotin chelseathông tin chuyển nhượngcâu lạc bộ bóng đá arsenalbóng đá atalantabundesligacầu thủ haalandUEFAevertonxosokeonhacaiketquabongdalichthidau7m.newskqbdtysokeobongdabongdalufutebol ao vivofutemaxmulticanaisonbethttps://bsport.fithttps://onbet88.ooohttps://i9bet.bizhttps://hi88.ooohttps://okvip.athttps://f8bet.athttps://fb88.cashhttps://vn88.cashhttps://shbet.atbóng đá world cupbóng đá inter milantin juventusbenzemala ligaclb leicester cityMUman citymessi lionelsalahnapolineymarpsgronaldoserie atottenhamvalenciaAS ROMALeverkusenac milanmbappenapolinewcastleaston villaliverpoolfa cupreal madridpremier leagueAjaxbao bong da247EPLbarcelonabournemouthaff cupasean footballbên lề sân cỏbáo bóng đá mớibóng đá cúp thế giớitin bóng đá ViệtUEFAbáo bóng đá việt namHuyền thoại bóng đágiải ngoại hạng anhSeagametap chi bong da the gioitin bong da lutrận đấu hôm nayviệt nam bóng đátin nong bong daBóng đá nữthể thao 7m24h bóng đábóng đá hôm naythe thao ngoai hang anhtin nhanh bóng đáphòng thay đồ bóng đábóng đá phủikèo nhà cái onbetbóng đá lu 2thông tin phòng thay đồthe thao vuaapp đánh lô đềdudoanxosoxổ số giải đặc biệthôm nay xổ sốkèo đẹp hôm nayketquaxosokq xskqxsmnsoi cầu ba miềnsoi cau thong kesxkt hôm naythế giới xổ sốxổ số 24hxo.soxoso3mienxo so ba mienxoso dac bietxosodientoanxổ số dự đoánvé số chiều xổxoso ket quaxosokienthietxoso kq hôm nayxoso ktxổ số megaxổ số mới nhất hôm nayxoso truc tiepxoso ViệtSX3MIENxs dự đoánxs mien bac hom nayxs miên namxsmientrungxsmn thu 7con số may mắn hôm nayKQXS 3 miền Bắc Trung Nam Nhanhdự đoán xổ số 3 miềndò vé sốdu doan xo so hom nayket qua xo xoket qua xo so.vntrúng thưởng xo sokq xoso trực tiếpket qua xskqxs 247số miền nams0x0 mienbacxosobamien hôm naysố đẹp hôm naysố đẹp trực tuyếnnuôi số đẹpxo so hom quaxoso ketquaxstruc tiep hom nayxổ số kiến thiết trực tiếpxổ số kq hôm nayso xo kq trực tuyenkết quả xổ số miền bắc trực tiếpxo so miền namxổ số miền nam trực tiếptrực tiếp xổ số hôm nayket wa xsKQ XOSOxoso onlinexo so truc tiep hom nayxsttso mien bac trong ngàyKQXS3Msố so mien bacdu doan xo so onlinedu doan cau loxổ số kenokqxs vnKQXOSOKQXS hôm naytrực tiếp kết quả xổ số ba miềncap lo dep nhat hom naysoi cầu chuẩn hôm nayso ket qua xo soXem kết quả xổ số nhanh nhấtSX3MIENXSMB chủ nhậtKQXSMNkết quả mở giải trực tuyếnGiờ vàng chốt số OnlineĐánh Đề Con Gìdò số miền namdò vé số hôm nayso mo so debach thủ lô đẹp nhất hôm naycầu đề hôm naykết quả xổ số kiến thiết toàn quốccau dep 88xsmb rong bach kimket qua xs 2023dự đoán xổ số hàng ngàyBạch thủ đề miền BắcSoi Cầu MB thần tàisoi cau vip 247soi cầu tốtsoi cầu miễn phísoi cau mb vipxsmb hom nayxs vietlottxsmn hôm naycầu lô đẹpthống kê lô kép xổ số miền Bắcquay thử xsmnxổ số thần tàiQuay thử XSMTxổ số chiều nayxo so mien nam hom nayweb đánh lô đề trực tuyến uy tínKQXS hôm nayxsmb ngày hôm nayXSMT chủ nhậtxổ số Power 6/55KQXS A trúng roycao thủ chốt sốbảng xổ số đặc biệtsoi cầu 247 vipsoi cầu wap 666Soi cầu miễn phí 888 VIPSoi Cau Chuan MBđộc thủ desố miền bắcthần tài cho sốKết quả xổ số thần tàiXem trực tiếp xổ sốXIN SỐ THẦN TÀI THỔ ĐỊACầu lô số đẹplô đẹp vip 24hsoi cầu miễn phí 888xổ số kiến thiết chiều nayXSMN thứ 7 hàng tuầnKết quả Xổ số Hồ Chí Minhnhà cái xổ số Việt NamXổ Số Đại PhátXổ số mới nhất Hôm Nayso xo mb hom nayxxmb88quay thu mbXo so Minh ChinhXS Minh Ngọc trực tiếp hôm nayXSMN 88XSTDxs than taixổ số UY TIN NHẤTxs vietlott 88SOI CẦU SIÊU CHUẨNSoiCauVietlô đẹp hôm nay vipket qua so xo hom naykqxsmb 30 ngàydự đoán xổ số 3 miềnSoi cầu 3 càng chuẩn xácbạch thủ lônuoi lo chuanbắt lô chuẩn theo ngàykq xo-solô 3 càngnuôi lô đề siêu vipcầu Lô Xiên XSMBđề về bao nhiêuSoi cầu x3xổ số kiến thiết ngày hôm nayquay thử xsmttruc tiep kết quả sxmntrực tiếp miền bắckết quả xổ số chấm vnbảng xs đặc biệt năm 2023soi cau xsmbxổ số hà nội hôm naysxmtxsmt hôm nayxs truc tiep mbketqua xo so onlinekqxs onlinexo số hôm nayXS3MTin xs hôm nayxsmn thu2XSMN hom nayxổ số miền bắc trực tiếp hôm naySO XOxsmbsxmn hôm nay188betlink188 xo sosoi cầu vip 88lô tô việtsoi lô việtXS247xs ba miềnchốt lô đẹp nhất hôm naychốt số xsmbCHƠI LÔ TÔsoi cau mn hom naychốt lô chuẩndu doan sxmtdự đoán xổ số onlinerồng bạch kim chốt 3 càng miễn phí hôm naythống kê lô gan miền bắcdàn đề lôCầu Kèo Đặc Biệtchốt cầu may mắnkết quả xổ số miền bắc hômSoi cầu vàng 777thẻ bài onlinedu doan mn 888soi cầu miền nam vipsoi cầu mt vipdàn de hôm nay7 cao thủ chốt sốsoi cau mien phi 7777 cao thủ chốt số nức tiếng3 càng miền bắcrồng bạch kim 777dàn de bất bạion newsddxsmn188betw88w88789bettf88sin88suvipsunwintf88five8812betsv88vn88Top 10 nhà cái uy tínsky88iwinlucky88nhacaisin88oxbetm88vn88w88789betiwinf8betrio66rio66lucky88oxbetvn88188bet789betMay-88five88one88sin88bk88xbetoxbetMU88188BETSV88RIO66ONBET88188betM88M88SV88Jun-68Jun-88one88iwinv9betw388OXBETw388w388onbetonbetonbetonbet88onbet88onbet88onbet88onbetonbetonbetonbetqh88mu88Nhà cái uy tínpog79vp777vp777vipbetvipbetuk88uk88typhu88typhu88tk88tk88sm66sm66me88me888live8live8livesm66me88win798livesm66me88win79pog79pog79vp777vp777uk88uk88tk88tk88luck8luck8kingbet86kingbet86k188k188hr99hr99123b8xbetvnvipbetsv66zbettaisunwin-vntyphu88vn138vwinvwinvi68ee881xbetrio66zbetvn138i9betvipfi88clubcf68onbet88ee88typhu88onbetonbetkhuyenmai12bet-moblie12betmoblietaimienphi247vi68clupcf68clupvipbeti9betqh88onb123onbefsoi cầunổ hũbắn cáđá gàđá gàgame bàicasinosoi cầuxóc đĩagame bàigiải mã giấc mơbầu cuaslot gamecasinonổ hủdàn đềBắn cácasinodàn đềnổ hũtài xỉuslot gamecasinobắn cáđá gàgame bàithể thaogame bàisoi cầukqsssoi cầucờ tướngbắn cágame bàixóc đĩa开云体育开云体育开云体育乐鱼体育乐鱼体育乐鱼体育亚新体育亚新体育亚新体育爱游戏爱游戏爱游戏华体会华体会华体会IM体育IM体育沙巴体育沙巴体育PM体育PM体育AG尊龙AG尊龙AG尊龙AG百家乐AG百家乐AG百家乐AG真人AG真人<AG真人<皇冠体育皇冠体育PG电子PG电子万博体育万博体育KOK体育KOK体育欧宝体育江南体育江南体育江南体育半岛体育半岛体育半岛体育凯发娱乐凯发娱乐杏彩体育杏彩体育杏彩体育FB体育PM真人PM真人<米乐娱乐米乐娱乐天博体育天博体育开元棋牌开元棋牌j9九游会j9九游会开云体育AG百家乐AG百家乐AG真人AG真人爱游戏华体会华体会im体育kok体育开云体育开云体育开云体育乐鱼体育乐鱼体育欧宝体育ob体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育开云体育开云体育棋牌棋牌沙巴体育买球平台新葡京娱乐开云体育mu88qh88

Short URL: http://newnigerianpolitics.com/?p=5871

Posted by on Mar 31 2011. Filed under Anthony A. Kila, Columnists, Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), NNP Columnists, Presidency. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply

YCE, Yoruba Ronu disagree on alleged disgrace of monarchs by Obasanjo

Headlines

Emefiele: DSS release detained CBN Deputy Governor

Categories

Browse Today’s Politics

Featuring Top 5/8 of Today's Politics

Our fear is that Akpabio cannot checkmate the ‘Yorubanisation’ of the financial system – Northern Senators

Browse Africa & World Politics

Featuring Top 3/2344 of Africa & World Politics

Browse National Politics

Featuring Top 5/1313 of National Politics

Pastor Enoch Adeboye: Ask God to kill me if…

Browse NNP Columnists

Featuring Top 10/1554 of NNP Columnists

Presidential Tribunal: Babatunde Fashola denies writing judgment, petitions Twitter to reveal fake news source

Advertisements

FEATURED VIDEOS

Group alleges plot to subvert justice at presidential election petition tribunal

ARCHIVES

March 2011
S M T W T F S
« Feb   Apr »
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

© 2023 New Nigerian Politics. All Rights Reserved. Log in - Designed by Gabfire Themes