Saraki, Secondus Advise Buhari To Debate With Atiku

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to accept Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s challenge to debate with him ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Atiku had thrown the challenge at the 83rd NEC meeting of the PDP held in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, “I have been asked to remind the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari that I, Atiku Abubakar, am ready for a debate.”

Secondus said that the debate would afford both candidates an opportunity to present their plans to Nigerians as politics is about “engagement”.

He said, “We challenge President Buhari to come out and debate and tell the people what he wants to do. He should not use proxy. Let him debate on issues with our candidate. Let him come out and debate. Politics is about engagement and persuasion and not by intimidation and arm – twisting. We have the best candidate in the country today and he is free and ready to debate on issues. We will not accept debate by proxy. If you want to rule Nigeria, come out and tell the people what you intend to do.”

Agreeing with Secondus, Saraki said that a presidential debate will help to guide Nigerians on who to choose during the polls based on their plans.

He said, “Let the man that does not have it leave the place and let the man that has it come in and do it. It depends on Nigerians to decide on what to do. It is not about sentiment, it is about who can do it. That is why I agree with you chairman, (Secondus ) he (Buhari) must come out and tell Nigerians what he wants to do. That’ s why our chairman said they should have a presidential debate; let’ s hear and let Nigerians decide. This is what we need to do, so that Nigerians can decide truly who will provide that future for them.”

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