Ex-presidential candidate challenges Tinubu, Atiku, Obi to debate

A politician and former presidential candidate of the defunct African Renaissance Party, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, has raised concerns over the state of the nation, describing Nigeria as a “failed state” that is “in a mess in all ramifications.”

In a statement issued on Friday in Enugu, Ndu criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress and leading opposition parties, accusing them of lacking ideology and focusing more on the 2027 elections than on governance, amid worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

Ndu, who pioneered Nigeria’s first presidential debate in Enugu in 1992, challenged President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to a “thorough debate” on practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

The president of the Peoples Movement for a New Nigeria said the current political space is dominated by conversations about elections rather than governance.

He said, “I have been watching the Nigerian political terrain and politicians closely since 1992, and my opinion is that over 90 per cent of our politicians do not care about good governance. All they are interested in is how to win elections.

“So far, all the so-called conventions of opposition political parties in Nigeria are about how to win elections and how to defeat President Tinubu and the APC. The APC convention itself was what anyone would expect when you ask an average student to mark his or her own examination papers.”

Ndu also described as “shameful” the dominance of social media debates over whether Tinubu’s second term is a “done deal,” while the nation continues to face what he called “multifaceted challenges.”

He proposed that the national discourse be structured as the “Ernest Ikoli Memorial Presidential Debate,” in honour of the late Ijaw-born journalist and nationalist, Ernest Ikoli, whom he said Nigeria has failed to properly immortalise.

The former presidential candidate extended his challenge to former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.

“What is needed now is a robust debate among all political parties and presidential aspirants on practical solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria, beginning with insecurity,” he added.

Warning that “the black race is doomed” if Nigeria fails, Ndu called on professional and socio-cultural organisations to facilitate the proposed dialogue.

He urged the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association, Christian Association of Nigeria, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum and PANDEF to jointly organise the session.

“Right now, our country is almost a failed state, which must never be allowed to happen because if Nigeria fails, Africa is finished,” the statement concluded.