Nigeria Content Online

Former Presidential
Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Pat Utomi, is expected to
moderate the public debate between the executive and legislative arms
of the Ogun State Government over the controversial N100b bond.

The State’s
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sina Kawonise, who made
this known yesterday in Abeokuta, said the debate is scheduled to hold
on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

Lawmakers had challenged the states’ governor, Gbenga Daniel, to the debate after they declined to back the bond deal.

Mr. Kawonise
initially mocked the idea of a public debate on the matter but the
position was later changed. The lawmakers promised to okay the bond if
they lost the debate.

Live transmission

Mr Kawonise said
the public debate, which will be transmitted live on Gateway Television
and Gateway Radio, will hold at the station’s studio at 10.00am and
that the executive and the legislature are expected to be represented
by three members each.

“The public debate
which will be transmitted live on Gateway Television and Gateway Radio
will hold in the studios of the Gateway Television, Abeokuta as from
10.00am, while a renowned political economist, Prof Pat Utomi will
serve as the Moderator,” he said.

“The state government wishes to give the assurance that all
necessary arrangements have been put in place at the Gateway Television
to ensure smooth transmission of the programme. It is hoped that the
leadership of the state house of assembly will live up to its call on
this crucial matter.”