President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday, March 22, 2015 joined the presidential candidates of other political parties in the presidential debate, organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) to trash out national issues and give Nigerians a peek into what their prospective governments have to offer if their respective bids become successful.
The debates which were held in batches saw President Jonathan tackle issues alongside Chekwas Okorie of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Oluremi Sonaiya of KOWA party, Chales Onovo of the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Godson Okoye of the United Democratic Party (UDP), with the spot reserved for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) conspicuously missing.
Answering questions on the issue of inuurgency, insecurity and Boko Haram, the candidates had the following to say.
President Goodluck Jonathan (PDP): We have added the use of drones in the fight against insurgency. We even use it in aerial surveillance to monitor the situation in operational areas.
Chekwas Okorie (UPP): I am worried that with all the territories recaptured, the girls are still not in sight, not to talk of being rescued, we may begin to take threats of the sect leader, Shekau very seriously.
Oluremi Sonaiya (KOWA): Sources of intelligence report must be protected, people should be sure that when they provide vital information to security agencies, their lives would be safe and these information will be acted upon.
On the forthcoming elections, NCP candidate, Onovo said Nigerians should vote wisely and accept reponsiblility for the kind of leadership they vote into power.
“If our votes produce bad leadership, we must accept responsibility for that bad leadership, there is absolutely no justification for us to be where we are, what makes the difference is the integrity of the party and the integrity of the candidate, that is what makes the difference. If we get the right leadership today, our retrogression would immediately be reversed, because we cannot continue like this,” he said.
See photos from the debate, as posted on Twitter by the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati:
President Jonathan and the candidates of the UPP, UDP, KOWA & NCP before the 2015 NEDG Presidential Debate. pic.twitter.com/V2osQxQ0ig
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
President Jonathan & candidates of the UPP, UDP, KOWA & NCP on stage for the 2015 NEDG Presidential Debate, Sun. pic.twitter.com/TpvDs2bYSV — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
#NEDG 2015 Presidential Debate. #TheirBabaisMissinginAction. pic.twitter.com/NINIjrtXct
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
Empty APC podium at NEDG 2015 Presidential Debate, Sun. March 22. #TheirBabaisMissinginAction pic.twitter.com/jxsaXhb0yI — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
President Jonathan with KOWA party Presidential candidate Remi Sonaiya at the 2015 NEDG Presidential Debate, Sun. pic.twitter.com/2Pr2r3oe4M
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
President Jonathan with UPP Presidential candidate Chekwas Okorie at the 2015 NEDG Presidential Debate, March 22. pic.twitter.com/wrlkifGyU0 — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
President Jonathan at the NEDG 2015 Presidential Debate, Sun. March 22. pic.twitter.com/Va5rvSjNvj
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 22, 2015
