By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, yesterday said he will no longer participate in any 2023 presidential candidates debate except the candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar are in person to debate.
Director General of his Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Doyin Okupe, who disclosed the position of the candidate, regretted that the exercise, which was designed to offer a platform for the presidential candidates to tell Nigerians how they intend to address the challenges of insecurity and economy bedeviling the country, is being turned to a huge joke by PDP and APC candidates who have repeatedly stayed away from it.
He described the development as a tip of an ice bag on how the two candidates hold Nigerians, adding that it is a clear case of nonchalance and impunity, which gives a hint on how they will treat Nigerians if they are voted into office.
Decrying what he described as a growing trend of irresponsibility, arrogance and disregard for the electorate, which he said has gone beyond coincidence to become a norm, Okupe said “On Monday, 22nd August 2022, the Nigerian Bar Association invited the leading Presidential candidates to address her Annual Bar Conference and the Nigerian people at this epic occasion, the Presidential Candidate of the APC sent his Vice Presidential candidate to represent him.
“Again ,on Tuesday and Wednesday September 13th and 14th 2022, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited the major Presidential Candidates to interact with them and the Nigerian people, on their economic and general policy initiatives as a prelude to the presidential elections.
“While His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, and other invited candidates appeared in person, the presidential candidate of the APC sent his Vice Presidential candidate to represent him.
“Once Again ,Yesterday the 6th November 2022, at the First AriseTV Town Hall Meeting, in contradiction to the understanding reached with the organisers, about allowing only presidential candidates to attend the event, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP was allowed to represent his Presidential candidate.
“This sparked a protest and rowdy situation by supporters of the other Presidential candidates present.
“The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, and the Presidential Campaign Organisation totally condemns this disregard for the electorate and the people, by these absentee Presidential Candidates.”
Okupe argued that anything short of the simple, transparent and honest adherence to this basic contract of responsibility, falls short of the standards of fair contest and engagement and can only be interpreted as mischievous evasion of the desired interface with the people.
“The Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation LPPCO finds it totally reprehensible and inconceivable why any Presidential Candidate for these elections should think that they are doing the voting public and indeed all Nigerians a favour, by appearing in person, at these scheduled programs which are a fundamental part of the election season and process.
“These candidates who have assumed the position of emperors and rulers, and not responsible politicians, who are willing to serve and listen to the people, place their position of trust in critical jeopardy by their high horse of arrogance and non accountability”, he said.
While lamenting that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who is the running mate to Atiku claimed at the ARISE Tv Townhall Meeting, that ‘Presidency is one’, Okupe said Obi and Datti-Baba will only be prepared to mount the podium, with their peers in this presidential race, and not with any surrogates or diversionary delegated representation.
