NIGERIA’S former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar took to the tweeter on Saturday explaining why he stayed away from the debate. He said he refused to participate because President Muhammadu Buhari was absent.
Abubakar, who came to the debate in Abuja was displeased because of the absence of Buhari and then refused to participate.
“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.
“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,” he said.
Abubakar said as a leader and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the APC Presidential Candidate’s absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on all of us and our democracy.
“With respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu & to moderator Mark Sugar & with apologies to Nigerians here & at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence,” he said.