Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, who stated this in an interview with some journalists in Enugu State, said that invitations to debates should be honoured by candidates so as to prove to Nigerians their sincerity to serve.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that presidential candidates who have things to hide from Nigerians are the ones refusing to honour media debates.
Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, who stated this in an interview with some journalists in Enugu State, said that invitations to debates should be honoured by candidates so as to prove to Nigerians their sincerity to serve.
Ogbonnia said, “Public scrutiny is an important aspect of a democracy. It involves examining how the candidate talks, his ability to convince people by responding to questions, his intuitive capacity, and his intriguing power.
“These things are very important. It helps us to know every aspect of the candidate before we vote. No candidate should shy away from it. Anyone who does so has something to hide. Nigerians should not accept it.”
He also noted that although debates were not compulsory, it remained part of public life.
Ogbonnia said, “Debate is not compulsory, but it is essential. The same way campaigns are not also compulsory. During debates, the people will understand the level a candidate flows. Ability to communicate is very important in public life.”
SaharaReporters had reported that the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu had been notorious for turning down media debates.
In some public functions like the Annual Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), he sent his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima to represent him.
Tinubu had refused to honour previous invitations from TV stations and others to presidential candidates to share their plans for the country, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Since he emerged winner at the APC presidential primary election in June, Tinubu has not appeared on any TV or radio interview programme like his counterparts.
Arise TV in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in partnership with Leadership Newspaper had in November, held the Presidential Town Hall debate for some selected 2023 presidential candidates.
The presidential town hall debate was expected to be attended in person by the presidential candidates but while the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) attended in person, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was represented by his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
Tinubu neither attended nor sent any representative.