Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar said he failed to participate in the Saturday Presidential debate because of the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari at the debate
In a statement, on Saturday night, Abubakar said you ‘can’t shave a man’s head in his absence’ and therefore would not want to criticize the president’s leadership style in his absence.
According to him “We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar can not 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. After all you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself”.
Continuing the PDP Presidential candidate said apologized all the other presidential candidates for failing to appear at the debate saying the non appearance of Buhari “is a slight on all of us and our democracy”.
“With all due respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu and to the moderator Mark Sugar and with apologies to all Nigerians here and at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret that I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence,” He further said.
He however challenged “President 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”.
