Other 15 candidates from the ACCORD, AA, ADP, APGA, APM, AAC, APP, ADC, BP, NNPP, NRM, PRP, SDP, YPP, and ZLP have expressed concern about the neglect, claiming that it portended grave danger for Nigeria's political future
As the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organises the 2022 edition of its private sector economic summit ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, there is a wave of discontent sweeping through political circles.
To fulfill its goal of constantly providing a venue for public office candidates to showcase their proposals for private sector development in Nigeria, the LCCI chose to conduct the 2022 edition, which began on September 13, at its corporate offices in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Guardian, what presently seems to be causing displeasure is the decision of the LCCI to invite only three out of the 18 presidential aspirants vying for the position of Nigeria’s president in next year’s elections.
The LCCI appeared to have irked other contestants by inviting only the trio of Abubukar Atiku (the Peoples Democratic Party), Peter Obi (the Labour Party), and Bola Tinubu (the All Progressives Congress) to the event where they would be given opportunities to articulate and sell their economic agenda to the private sector, using its platform.
Chinyere Almona, the LCCI director-general, in a statement issued last Wednesday, said, “Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, at 9.30 am; Peter Obi, the LP candidate, is slated for Wednesday, September, 14, at 9.30 am and Bola Tinubu, the APC candidate, will come October 28, at 9.30am.”
Atiku was at the LCCI on Tuesday but Obi has since rescheduled for a yet-to-be-decided date, while Tinubu says he won’t be available until October 28.
Almona had in the statement said that the LCCI was a non-partisan private sector operator which was, however, interested in the economic agenda of the candidates and their plans to make Nigeria better
The lack of other presidential candidates besides Atiku, Obi, and Tinubu has placed doubt on the LCCI's non-partisanship surrounding the event, which will be webcast on all LCCI social media platforms and would allow people to ask presidential candidates questions on their manifestos.
As a result, the other 15 candidates from the ACCORD, AA, ADP, APGA, APM, AAC, APP, ADC, BP, NNPP, NRM, PRP, SDP, YPP, and ZLP have expressed concern about the neglect, claiming that it portended grave danger for Nigeria's political future because the LCCI has demonstrated its partisanship, despite claims to the contrary.
Other parties' spokespersons are outraged that a forum of such importance, which has successfully hosted the series for the past 16 years - spanning four political transitions in the country - could succumb to the temptation of handpicking only three of the 18 contestants for the Nigerian presidency to present papers at the event.
"We have always considered the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) as an apolitical organization that is just interested in boosting Nigeria's general economic objectives through its policies," one of the parties' spokesmen said.