Friday’s first presidential debate might have come and gone but the immediate impression it has created would probably play a significant role in the determination of the outcome of the April general election, particularly, the presidential contest.
To start with, it would be inappropriate to dismiss it as a debate organized by a ‘non-traditional’ organizer of such debates, as has been argued in some quarters. The truth of the matter is that Nigerians have been yearning for an opportunity to see and hear their would-be-president address issues of national importance at a forum that is void of the rowdy atmosphere often associated with campaign rallies.
More importantly, their various deputies had, two weeks ago, taken their turn and many people were actually looking forward to seeing the ‘big masquerades’ do the next dance step the best way they know how.
Candidates of three major political parties participated in the debate organised by NN24TV, a cable TV station. They are Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Positive Change (CPC); Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
For the record, President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also a candidate in the April election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was absent at the debate moderated by Kadaria Ahmed, Editor of Next.
Expectedly, the debate dwelt as much on topical issues of national interest. Some sought to expose the inner character of the candidates. Some of the areas touched on include: Niger Delta, power crisis, corruption, health care delivery, education, the controversial zoning issue, and of course, what makes the candidates the best bet for the nation in post May 29.
If the objective was to ‘lay the candidates bare’ so that Nigerians can make their choice, it certainly scores the bull’s eye. At the end of the day, many Nigerians who watched it now have the wherewithal to score those who participated in terms of their composure, fluency and depth or substance.
These are three things which if combined with good personality should set one apart from the rest.
Composure
Of the three candidates, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau stunned viewers with his calm, serene, dignified and unhurried approach to the debate. His answers were delivered in a fashion typical of a practiced teacher that he is. Until the Friday debate, many Nigerians probably would have thought that the Kano State Governor may not be able to stand the intensity of the klieg light as they stand before party members, diplomats, the business community and media men.
In this regard, Shekarau scored high. It would not be incorrect to say he actually led the pack. Though the other two contestants did not perform badly in this wise, it would be preposterous to try and stand the three of them at par.
Fluency
Another important thing that many viewers must have noticed on Friday has to do with the fluency and flexibility with which the candidates delivered their answers.
Here, two candidates shared the spotlight equally. They are Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of ACN and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of the ANPP. Both paraded attractive diction, laced with clarity and spontaneity. They left Gen Muhammadu Buhari far behind and it was just obvious. They never struggled with construction of the syntax and delivery of their thought chain never suffered any intellectual inhibition.
Depth/substance
But by far the most important thing that Nigerians were looking forward to was the depth of knowledge each of the candidates had on any subject matter. This proved to be the most decisive of all the three factors.
The reasons are not far fetched. No matter the amount of composure any individual might display or this power of oratory by way of fluency in speech, if the person has no depth or substance, he would at best be a ‘twinkling cymbal’, to borrow a biblical lingo.
On this score, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu left his co-contestants trailing far behind. He was at home with facts and figures. His arguments are statistically supported. He showed class, knowledge and willingness to work. He was ready for action. He, more than any other candidate, showed signs of preparedness in that he often declared the problems and follow same with possible solutions. And in his concluding remark, Ribadu left no one in doubt that he was ready to salvage the country, and ready to hit the ground running.
Those who recorded the debate should try and listen to it all over again and try to pin down what these individuals had to say on the Niger Delta, power supply, a skewed budget that is terribly disproportionate in terms of recurrent and capital expenditure and the economy, zoning and more importantly, education. While Buhari thinks there is no problem with Nigerian education sector, Ribadu decalered it a disaster and complete failure.
Shekarau came second and Buhari a distant third. The former head of State actually sold only one thing to Nigerians throughout the debate and that is his perceived rock solid integrity.
But the lack of substance or depth in the answers provided by candidates in the debate could not be as a result of nothing. It goes to show that Nigerian political arrangement has been miserably bereft of ideas, manifestos and well thoughout visions.
With this and hopefully, the one coming on March 29, which the President Jonathan has agreed to attend, Nigerians will see more of their president to be and will vote appropriately.
