The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has challenged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sit for a 1 hour interview with any television.
Atiku’s comments are coming after the Tinubu campaign group criticised his recent interview with Arise Television, branding him an ‘expert in lies’.
Responding to this, Atiku’s campaign team, in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Saturday evening replied Tinubu, daring him to sit for an hour-long interview as it would be a good opportunity to see if he was as articulate and mentally fit as the former vice-president.
The statement read; “We were rather amused to read the knee jerk response from the Tinubu Campaign Organisation to the wave making interview granted by Waziri Atiku Abubakar to Arise TV on Thursday, July 21, 2022.”
“Amusement, because we expected this. Mr. Tinubu has not sat down to do any prolonged interview for obvious reasons. Nigerians have seen him talk in public and can themselves gauge the reason why he is mortified to do so.”
“Nevertheless, I will now take the issues in their statement one after the other.”
“The Tinubu campaign exposed its gross desperation and vacuousness by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young custom officer as a breach of the law. It is pertinent to educate the Tinubu campaign organisation that Nigeria is not under a military regime and our Constitutions are not retroactive in nature.”
“Again, the Tinubu campaign betrayed either dishonesty or lack of attention to detail by claiming that Atiku Abubakar said oil contributed 20% of Nigeria’s GDP. That is a lie. What the Waziri said is as follows:
“Oil only maybe accounts for about 20% of our GDP.”
“The use of the word maybe by the Waziri was in reflection to the different figures given. While the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics states a figure close to 10%, other multilateral organisations have given a much higher figure of between 15-20%. So, while the jury is still out, it is right to qualify the contribution of oil and gas as a maybe. However, we do like to point out that Waziri Atiku Abubakar mentioned both the PDP and the APC during the interview and did not forget the name of his own party.”
“It seems the Tinubu campaign organisation (can a disorganised body be called an organisation?) does not know the meaning of rotation of power and micro zoning. So, we will gladly educate them. Rotation of power refers to a constitutional provision where power is zoned between North and South. Micro-zoning refers to a non constitutional idea, where power is zoned not between North and South, but amongst geo-political zones. We hope this cures the political illiteracy of the authors of that document.”
“The rude response also accuses Waziri Atiku Abubakar of having “limited education”. Atiku Abubakar has an earned Masters degree from Anglia Ruskin University. We challenge any of the present Presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree. Moreover, his university attendance is a matter of verified record. Can we say the same about some other persons?”
“On President Lincoln, we are afraid the poor student of history is the Tinubu campaign disorganisation. Yes, it is true that Lincoln ran for President with his name on the ballot twice. But he ran at other times, and failed to get his name on the ballot.”
“In conclusion, we would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat.”
NIGERIA DO NOT REQUIRE A TALKER FOR PRESIDENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. RATHER, A PROVEN DOER.
Competition for the most TALKATIVE is an absurdity.
ANYONE WHO WISH TO TALK SHOULD GO TO THE BIRDS IN THE JUNGLE.
The sagacity of ABAT is both unquestionable and unmatched. It should not be about empty narratives buried deep in garrulous expressions of no substance.
ONE THING REMAINS VERY CLEAR IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL DISPENSATION.
Nobody in the annals of Nigerian politics, except for the late sage. Chief Obafemi Awolowo who happens to be the only presidential candidate that has beaten the record of Asiwaju Tinubu in trans versing the political landscape and terrain of Nigerian politics.
INCLUDING, THE FACT THAT HE HAS GIVEN AND DELIVERED HIS SPEECHES WHILE STANDING ON HIS TWO FEET FOR HOURS DURING SUCH DELIVERIES.
No other presidential candidate has lived up to the stamina which Tinubu has displayed. Let the rest in the other pack take up that challenge and come back for a debate if they would.
The camp of Waziri even take the MEDIOCRITY of their pool to elevated level of delusion of grandeur. 10%, 20% or whatever percentage manifests an UNREHEARSED not well RESEARCHED collar of a presidential candidate who has informed us that he is neither READY nor PREPARED for the serious task of the Nigerian business. Now that we know Atiku Abubakar would rather treat the presidency with frivolity in place and instead of the determination of a goal getter with the requisites with the nerves of a workaholic.
They even shot themselves in both feet. A mentality for lawlessness. MOONLIGHTING is both anemic and inconsistent with the spirit and letters of civil service engagements. Doing business while in the employment of government in Nigeria is a clash of interest and contradicts the terms and modes of operation of most government employees all over the world which Nigeria subscribes to and practice.
IT IS NO TIME FOR IDLE TALKS, RATHER, TIME FOR ACTION AND TO BE UP AND DOING. NOT LOAFING AROUND IN GUISE OF BLABBING.
Hopefully, Nigerians are taking notes of the faux pax and slips from candidates who will take our destinies for granted and to the winds. We should have grown smarter for the likes of Waziri Adamawa.
Well, I don’t think politics should involve attack on characters but rather political ideologies should be showcased to win electoral support.
I have always advocated for a constitutional and mandatory requirement for segmented presidential and vice presidential debates before the election proper. At least three times before the election.
If not constitutional at least it should be part of the electoral laws.
This will allow the electorates to access their candidates and make informed decisions on who to vote for.
Buhari dodged it before the elections. See where we are today. He still doesn’t talk to Nigerians 7yrs after. A DISASTER