By Pascal Oparada
Social Media/Tech Reporter
For opting out of the presidential debate held on January 19, 2019, Nigerians are not happy with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku showed up for the debate but refused to participate because President Muhammadu Buhari was absent.
“We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies.” Atiku tweeted.
He apologized to Nigerians and challenged his main opponent, Buhari, “to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well.”
But Nigerians would hear none of those. They say Atiku insulted them by not taking part in the debate irrespective of Buhari’s absence.
According to them, he should have prepared for the debate knowing that Buhari may not attend.
They called his excuse lame and irresponsible.
Fitness expert, Wale Gates, believes that Atiku threw away an opportunity to show Nigerians that he cares about them despite Buhari’s absence.
“Atiku’s advisers didn’t get this move right at all. This was your “See I’m here, I care, I feel your pain, I can hear you, the President couldn’t be bothered” moment and you blew it,” he said.
But others defended the former vice president.
According to them, the race is between Atiku and Buhari, so he did the right thing by backing out.
