By Ayo Kehinde
The three candidates, Dr Obiagel Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress of Nigeria, ACPN, Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN and Professor Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Peoples Party, YPP, took time to tongue-lash the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, who did not show up at all and of the Peoples Democratic, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who showed up but left when he found that Buhari would not be coming. He later twitted, as reported by Thisage, that he went to “a presidential debate and not a candidate debate”, meaning that if he were to make references to policies of the government, Buhari would be unavailable to answer back or to defend them. The presidential debate was organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria on Saturday. It was moderated by Mark Sugar.
Security:
Moghalu promised to overhall the security architecture of the country and vowed that following a recent international report that alleged corruption in the military as the need, he would to rid the military of corruption. Durotoye said the Police need to be given more training, equipment and given proper orientation to police the country, especially the porous borders of the country, while Ezekesili said role definition and that enhances professionalism of the security apparatus would be a priority.
Education:
In response to a question from 8-year old commediene, Emmanuel how to revamp failing public based school education, Prof Moghalu said as a product of public education, he would ensure free and compulsory education from primary to secondary schools that would make private school unattractive. He said he would put an end to ASSU strike by funding education with a target the current 7 percent to 20 percent. For Durotoye, a mass bus transportation and punishment for parents who refused to send children to schools would do, while Ezekwesili said because education is a state of dysfunctional, “We will fix the learning outcomes in our public schools, which is the quality of the teachers. We will focus on a better remuneration for our teachers and improve the curriculum. Education has always been known as a pathway to human progress. Economic and social mobility is possible through education. The early childhood education will be integrated. We will focus on technical and vocational education. We must modernise teaching and equip our teachers
“We must modernise teaching. We will take teaching to the prestigious profession that it once was by training the teachers massively, and equipping them with the new knowledge of the new economy.”
Oluwola Ola, an entrepreneur asked “what would be the plan of your party to integrate the Nigeria youths in policy and decision making.
Ezekwesili said they youths must participate in the agenda of her government for new world development. “We have said it that 50 per cent of our cabinet will be made of young people. We will ensure that our youths are competitive globally.”
Corruption: and Healing the country
Moghalu:
My presidency would be established on the bases of equity and justice. That is the way to healing the country. Then we would have a vision that is powerful, a world- view of what we want to become, that is how Singapore and Malaysia made it. As general counsel of Newswatch, Mr Ray Ekpu, whom I never knew before, gave me the job. He is from Akwa Ibom. Then a Yoruba, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi helped me secure a $25,000 scholarship to school abroad, while current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido who recommended me to late President Yar’Ardua for Deputy Governorship of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. So how would I look down at Nigerians.
Durotoye:
The anti -corruption policy of the current government is selective, meant for people who are not members of their party. So we must strengthen our institution and make the process transparent. Make it easier to report for any person involved in corrupt act. And investigate the people, meaning the security officers would be well trained. We would also make it easier to get judgment.
Ezekwesili:
The first thing is that as President, leadership is necessary to give signal to the people, Secondly, is to reduce corruption. “As the President of the country, exemplary leadership is key, which will help reduce corruption. There will be structural change like deregulation of the petroleum sector to reduce corruption. Good behaviour will rewarded while bad behaviourwill be punished. Today, those who commit savagery know that there’s no consequence, and whenever there’s no consequence to criminality, it mushrooms. There’s a huge supply of bad behaviour, savagery in our country because there has not been any judicial process that has led to the conviction of anyone
that has killed a fellow Nigerian.”
Bisola Adeola, 33-year old who asked what each would do for the vulnerable girl-child in the country. What social programme to impact the girl child
Moghalu. I am the first presidential candidate since 1999 to choose a woman as vice presidential candidate who is a strong voice for girl child education in Northern part of the country. So we would invest in the education, make sure young women have funds, and girls get protection in Nigeria,
Durotoye: First is o ensure every girl child is given and opportunity to attend school in Nigeria and everybody with girl child at home get a girl child education I am also, like Moghale has a running mate who is a female Vice presidential candidate, Hadiza who had been active in girl child education in the north. We would ensure the girl are safe in schools.
Ezekwesili:
As Minister of Education, we found disparity between boys and girls in education very wide. That is why the Chibok and Dapchi girls episode was heart breaking for me. A nation that educates a girl child has put a higher price for the country. My party would give incentive to parents to send girls to school and girl too by role modeling through female teachers. In the end, it is the community, family that benefits from the girl child education. She said, “Some 29.7 per cent Nigerian youths are unemployed while about 55 per cent of them do not have a tangible job. The curriculum in the tertiary institutions should be geared towards making the youth employable. The way out for our youths is jobs, jobs, jobs.
“Our plan is to lift at least 80 million Nigerians out of poverty. To reduce government spending, the private sector must run the economy. Our plan is to lift at least 80 million Nigerians out of poverty. When people have better productivity, they live better.
Final statements:
Moghalu:
APC and PDP over the past twenty years have brought our country to this sorry pass. That sorry pass is the past and the future is what my party represents. That future would be shared by artificial intelligence and Google and not be old and analogue Nigerians
Durutoye:
My brother and sisters every twenty years an opportunity come for change… In 1999 there was change from military to military in civilian clothes and now in 2019 it would be into the hands of new party who has the interest of future Nigeria at heart.
Obiezekwesili:
You have heard a lot of words but take one thing away form this debate; this is a historic county, your historic moment. I have spoken not as one theorizing, but a someone who cares, who has the competence and capable of solving the problems. It is possible and it would be done. Make sure on the 16th of February, you use the vote well.
