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Why I Have Decided Not To Debate Jonathan – Buhari

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Gen. Muhammudu Buhari, presidential candidiate of the All Progressive party has questioned why he would debate President Goodluck Jonathan who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP if the situation of the ecomony has regressed since the PDPs assumption of power in 1999.
Buhari who promised press freedom yesterday also said there will be no debate with President Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari said also that change revolution without firing a shot was imminent in the country.
Buhari, who spoke at an interactive session with members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria( NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors( NGE) in Abuja, said there was nothing to debate after 16 years of misrule, especially what he described as the six years of bad governance under Jonathan.
Buhari and Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi arrive for the interactive session with members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria( NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors( NGE) in Abuja
He said: “To be fair to me and Mr. President, after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and six years of his time, is there anything to debate?
“Very seriously, you know the condition we are in; we are all experiencing it, no matter who you are. So, what should I debate there?” Buhari is quoted as saying by the Nation
On the general election, Buhari said the shift on February 14 was unnecessary, after INEC had made it clear that it was prepared for the elections.
He gave insights into what INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega told the Council of State meeting and how the military differed.
He said Nigerians were waiting to see whether or not the military would have rid Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of Boko Haram insurgency.
He said: “I will give you the latest. When INEC submitted a comprehensive document on February 14th election to the Council of State, a number of us made comments. INEC did a good job and they put it on record because after submitting a document, you cannot withdraw it.
“They submitted a document on what they had been doing since 2011, including training of personnel, acquiring election materials and how they were distributing them; and how they secured them.
Buhari shared some of the discussions and activities at the councilof State meeting with INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega. He said INEC was ready for elections
“They even said they were ready to conduct the election because they had achieved about 60 per cent distribution of the voter cards. In the previous elections, it had never been better than 45 per cent. But they were prepared.
“Somehow, the military told them they cannot guarantee their security. Then six weeks were given and for Nigerians, those six weeks were within the perimeter allowed for the election. So, INEC said they should be allowed to give the military six weeks.”
Gen. Buhari said Nigerians had been watching the military on how it would secure the remaining local government areas before the polls.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar was also at the event which addressed Media owners
He added: “The reasons given have exposed the inefficiency of the leadership because there were only 14 local government areas in the hands of Boko Haram. These were 10 in Borno, two in Yobe and two in Adamawa.
Buhari was less impressed with the shift in poll dates which was supposedly so because of the emergence of Boko Haram forces in the North
Buhari cannot imagine how Boko Haram forces who couldn’t be tackled in 6 years could be ousted from the north in 6 weeks
“If Nigerian military cannot secure 14 local government areas in six years, how can they do it in six weeks. We are watching. We have only about 10 days to go in the six weeks. Let us see. In spite of the help of our generous neighbors, let us see whether the remaining LGAs can be secured.
“So, those in favour of presidential debate have a lot to do to convince me to do it.”
Former VP, Abubakar Atiku would not be left out as he shares a joke with other members on the high table
At the interactive session, Buhari addressed other issues like press freedom which he did not give during his 20-month rule as Military head of state. Buhari promised that the press will not be repressed in anyway.

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