We reported earlier that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly walked out of the venue of the debate.
Ilemona Onoja, former campaign spokesman to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, confirmed this via his Twitter account. According to him, the former vice-president left, because President Muhammadu Bihari failed to show up.
However, Atiku has released a speech as to why he decided not to attend the debate. He further challenged President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he and other candidates will be present.
He said….
We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar can not challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies. After all you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself. As a leader and former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the APC Presidential Candidates absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.
Secondly, with all due respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu and to the moderator Mark Sugar and with apologies to all Nigerians here and at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret that I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.
I however challenge President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well.
Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar
