Presidential debates: NEDG allays Buhari, Ribadu, Shekarau’s fears

Posted by admin Elections 2011, Latest Politics Friday, March 25th, 2011

The Nigerian Elections Debate Group, organisers of next week’s presidential debates, has appealed to the the presidential candidates who have decided to opt out to reconsider their positions.

General Muhammadu Buhari (CPC); Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, (ACN); and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) had decided to shun the debates scheduled for March 28 – 30 in Abuja to show their displeasure at the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan from that organised last week by NN24.

They said in a joint statement by their campaign organisations that “since most of the agencies organising the BON debate are government parastatals, the organisers may not be in a position to resist the request for advance questions being given to the debaters.”

However, NEDG Chairman/CEO, Arewo Taiwo Alimi in a statement yesterday said the group was not synonymous with BON (Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria), explaining that NEDG “is a broader coalition of broadcast and print media owners, as well as professional, civil society, women and youth organisations.”

Alleging the fears of the trio, Aremo Alimi said: “The organization of 2011 Presidential Debates holding
from March 28 to 30, 2011 is open, transparent and independent.

Questions that will be fielded to candidates are collated from questions sourced from contributions from professional groups and private persons as well as from NEDG Website and will be only made known to even the moderators ‘on air” during the Presidential Debates.

The questions are normally from broad areas and candidates will be expected to proffer their positions on such issues.

The Debate format and rules are strictly in line with the code of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the debates are open only to a non_participatory audience. The NEDG platform therefore remains the most credible, all_inclusive and most far_reaching forum that will enable candidates present directly their policies and programmes to several millions of Nigerians at home and abroad.

NEDG therefore appeal to the Presidential candidates of ACN, CPC and ANPP to reconsider their decision not to participate in the debates, as they owe Nigerians a duty to explain their positions on issues, so that they could be properly evaluated with the incumbent President and Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, standing side_by_side.

The NEDG wishes to use this forum to reiterate that the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates will hold at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja from March 28 to 30, 2011.”

-Vanguardwp_posts