No Debate, No Vote (3)

Buhari has strong grass roots support in parts of the north, while Ribadu's Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is dominant in the southwest, and while they have no formal alliance they are hoping to prevent Jonathan clinching a first-round win.
—REUTERS[/URL]

Four major Nigerian Presidential Candidates

Yesterday’s debate was very interesting. President Goodluck Jonathan or a representative did not bother to show up. Jonathan always has an excuse for everything that he fails to do. His excuse for shunning the NN24 Presidential Debate was because he allegedly did not get the invitation on time. Jonathan’s special assistant on international affairs, Ken Saro-Wiwa told REUTERS that, “the request came late…”

The presidential contenders were CPC candidate retired General Muhammadu Buhari, ACN candidate Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and ANPP candidate Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State. Shouldn’t NN24 have invited another candidate like Pat Utomi, Dele Momodu or Chris Okotie to replace President Goodluck Jonathan in the debate?

Out of 21 presidential candidates only four candidates were invited to the debate. NN24 is not the only television station in Nigeria. Other TV stations should have held debates by inviting other candidates. It is not too late to quickly organise more debates before the upcoming presidential election on April 9 because it is unfair on some candidates and the electrorate. People want to know what they politically have to offer.

Debates will give the electorate the chance to decide who they really need to vote for. At the same time, it can help candidates to win more votes. President Jonathan is expected to appear on a debate by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria on March 29.

Buhari, Ribadu, Shekarau clash over Niger Delta, power
Presidential Debate: Buhari, Ribadu, Shekarau List Agenda
Nigeria: 21 Candidates to Contest Presidential Election on 9th April 2011
Incase you missed it – Nigeria's Presidential Debate. Edited Full Version

Utomi and Election Results


Pat Utomi in a laughing mood…
Cats mythically have nine lives unlike human beings. The Social Democratic Mega Party presidential candidate, Pat Utomi has probably escaped more fatal incidents than the average human being. The Professor of Political Economy made a revelation on The Teju Baby Face Show (HiTV – Sky Channel 204) and made viewers laugh but it may be useful to politicians and the electorate in Nigeria.

He said someone once showed him the election result of a state in Nigeria, two weeks before a particular election and he was shocked to find out that the result was accurate with the real election result. He did not disclose the state but revealed that it was in the North East.

Since then, he realized that Nigerian political elections literally took place two weeks ahead of the physical elections. What does it really mean? It could mean that the last two weeks before the election day are the most important weeks. Of course, Nigerian politics is very different from British and American politics.

Does that mean that bribery and corruption could take place within the two crucial weeks? It could mean that having a mammoth crowd at campaign rallies does not mean that those present will eventually vote for the party they came to support.

Voters can change their minds within a split second. It is very important for the candidates to frequently keep in touch with their party leaders in every state during the last two weeks to the election. The state party leaders should continue to campaign throughout their ‘territories’ until Election Day. This is because another party could easily bribe voters in their favour.

Utomi ‘knows’ that he is unlikely to win the presidential election but has always offered a helping hand to the winning party as long as his policies are implemented. Some political parties should be 'happy' if they are able to win gubernatorial, local or legislative seats even if they lose at the presidential level.

The Presidential Debate: Mr & Mrs J

Governor Ibrahim Shekarau

Mrs J: I didn’t allow you to watch the Presidential debate on purpose.

Mr J: Where was it shown anyway?

Mrs J: On NN24 (DStv Channel 414) and that London based satellite TV station called BEN TV (Sky Channel 184).

Mr J: I didn’t want BEN TV to show it o. I did’t want the International Community to see that I wasn’t there o. Wetin dey for the show?

Mrs J: No bi show darling! Na real …HISHE!

Mr J: As per what?

Mrs J: All the three candidates are ready to send us packing from Aso Rock o. I will miss Aso Rock.

Mr J: They can’t scare us out of here. Stop fretting darling. God put us me here and nobody can unseat me until 2015. Our people have suffered too much. It is their time to have someone from their area as President. Whether I can rule well or not is their headache. I don’t bl**dy care at all o.

Mrs J: These people don go far o. They have plans for lack of electricity and Buhari wants to probe you, Baba Heeyarbor and Yar’Aduha. I dey fear o. Before the debate, Ribadu said he would recover the stolen loot of $15 billion electricity funds. Can you still win the election?

Mr J: I have no rival. I will win the election. Good luck shines on me anywhere I go. I am not an ordinary person o.

Mrs J: Abeg let me land now, let me land o.

Mr J: What is it? We are not on a jet plane now.

Mrs J: Our days are numbered here o. We need to start thinking of the future.

Mr J: If not for my terrible advisers and campaign group that told me not to go and jump on that stage with Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau… oh gosh! I would have shaken the hell out of Shekarau, with hot words. He can rule a state but not Nigeria, that is why he is still the Governor of a state.

Mrs J: Are you not a former Governor? The man sabi Oyinbo language pass you o. Na only first degree him get but he bi pedigree.

Mr J: I am a doctorate degree holder, so what do you mean? It is all propaganda. Na Oyinbo we wan chop?

Mrs J: Online media said Shekarau won the debate. He is better than you. Can’t you get the drift?

Mr J: Not even Ribadu or Buhari can rule like me.

Mrs J: Look, from what I saw they have better plans for Nigerians than you. You need to change those useless, good for nothing, money chopping ministers. My husband is good. It is the ministers that are bad o.

Mr J: I for go there but it is too late now!

Mrs J: Make I hear word o! No bi you say you no fit go b’cos ya heart dey pound like pounded yam? Dat you no fit blow big grammar on stage. Na only gari you fit blow like a boxer!

Mr J: That was before-before, now I go show them o.

Mrs J: Abeg forget dat one. The one wey dey pain me bi one male columnist wey say I don’t fat no bi small.

Mr J: Was the writer telling lies on you?

Mrs J: So you think I am a fat cow too?

Mr J: Since 2007, did I not tell you to go on diet and take a refresher course in English Language? You allowed bloggers and journalists to say this and that about the way you read your speech thrice. You better sack your speech-writer. Maybe you only pretend to read speeches.

Mrs J: Abeg leave me alone now. What about you?

Mr J: What about me?

Mrs J: Did you not pronounce sponsor as “sponsure?”

Mr J: When?

Mrs J: After the bomb blast near Eagle Square!

Mr J: As long as I don’t fire gun salutes with English words then I am OK. After all, I was not born in England.