The presidential candidate of the Peoples Trust, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has described the failure of President Mohammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to appear at a presidential debate recently held Abuja , amounted to contempt of the electorate.
Olawepo-Hashim, maintained that Nigerian electorate deserve to scrutinize the candidates and programmes of the “two behemoth that have come to be known as the two evils of Nigerian politics”.
He disclosed further that their absence under whatever excuse(s) shows their contempt for the electorate.
The PT presidential candidate who said , it is fundamental not to allow the candidates of All Progressives Congress( APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escape public scrutiny which a debate symbolizes, urged the NEDG/ BON to immediately set up a new debate featuring his party and the two big parties.
Olawepo-Hashim, whose party is also known as the Third Force, said that he was volunteering to enter into a debate with the APC and PDP candidates at any location of their choice.
While praising the three candidates who appeared at the debate, Olawepo- Hashim noted that, they gave good accounts of themselves.
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According to Mr. Hashim, “Nigerian electorate deserve to scrutinize the candidates and programmes of the two behemoth that have come to be known as the “two evils of Nigerian politics. Their absence under whatever excuse(s) shows their contempt for the electorates.
The PT presidential candidate, however, congratulated the candidates of the ACPN, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili; YPP, Mr. Kinsley Moghalu and ANN, Mr. Fela Durotoye for “their brilliant performance at the debate.
“The three candidates advertised to the world, a teaser of what stuff new generation of political leaders are made off.
“We have complained about this in the past, a new debate will be a good way to cure the debate platform of that error. There is no problem in making a mistake by excluding us, but it will be dishonourable not to seize a good opportunity to correct your error.”
The PT presidential candidate further called on the organizers to also include promising candidates like Omoyele Sowore and others who may be interested in the next round of the debate.
According to him, it is fundamental not to allow the APC and PDP escape public scrutiny which a debate symbolizes.
Olawepo-Hashim added that it will not even matter if the APC is represented at the proposed debate by another person other than the President Buhari, whom he said may be afraid of public scrutiny due to his obvious display of lack of presence of mind in recent public outings.
“We are persuaded now that we can excuse Mr. Buhari; all we want is to scrutinize APC’s record at a proper presidential debate. Nigerians have a right to that debate,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
