With the absence of Bola Tinubu and Atiku at the recently conducted Arise TV presidential debate, it has become clear that the idea of political debates is fast losing its steam and essence in Nigeria. It is even worse at the state level.
While I consider the reasons tendered for the absence of Bola Tinubu as weak and inexcusable, I however see the idea of sending Ifeanyi Okowa; a vice presidential candidate to represent Atiku as equally lame.
A presidential debate should be a presidential debate, not something that should be delegated to some other fellows.
Unfortunately, just as Peter Obi’s campaign team has called off his engagements in future Political debates, it is also pertinent to state that the next presidential election will be dull and uninteresting.
Beyond reading their lifeless manifestos and listening to their barefaced lies bandied at campaign grounds, Nigerians will not be privileged to gauge their future president on his ability to speak confidently or function optimally under pressure and sometimes unpleasant situations.
Apart from its entertainment value, political debates help us to know more about public office aspirants, their intellectual prowess, academic cum career pedigree, and lastly, their manifesto.
Another good thing political debates expose is the individual’s capacity to absorb and function under depressing situations. This is why most political debates are often associated with verbal attacks, name-dropping, and name-calling.
It gives the electorate a glimpse of who their next political leader is beyond his choreographed performances at other public fora.
While it is true that political debates do not strongly affect electoral outcomes in Nigeria, they however tell us the kind of persons we will be dealing with in the nearest future.
Unfortunately, since 1999 till date, all the candidates that had emerged as Nigeria’s presidents had at one time or another other treated political debates with ignominy.
Rarely have we had the winning candidate with his closest rival sparring at the same time at a political debate? Very rarely.
Going by his predilection for dodging media interviews, I’m afraid Bola Tinubu would not be another Obasanjo. Tinubu would rather prefer to speak to a clapping audience with less intrusion than speaking with hard-hitting journalists.
Read Also: Tinubu, Madmen, And Politics In Nigeria
His presidency will be one of more speculations than reality. This is going to be the fate of Nigeria in the next four years. Unfortunately, whether we believe it or not, he’s the one most favored to become the next president. It is what it is!
CREDIT: Facebook.com / Uzogara Tobechukwu
Disclaimer: “The views/contents expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of Uzogara Tobechukwu and do not necessarily reflect those of The World Satellite (TWS). TWS will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article.”
