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If not for the NN24
presidential debate, one would never have known just how much of a
president the Kano State governor is capable of being. He spoke and
answered questions well, backed with empirical evidence; and dished out
information that showed he probably did or has been doing a bit of
homework to pass his April exams.

This debate
brouhaha just confirms one thing: damned if you do, damned if you
don’t! Suddenly, debates have come to stay and any aspirant must now
seriously consider whether elective office is truly for them,
especially if they doubt their ability to participate in a public
debate. It’s probably okay if one is mildly cerebral, not stupid and
able to put one’s opinions across succinctly. But if one is not
academically strong, a doer rather than a talker, it may be a bit of a
struggle. Hence, it is a decision one must reach after mature
deliberation: to debate or not.

The down side to
not debate is that many will think the unwilling candidate is not
capable, has nothing vibrant to say, lacks a certain charismatic appeal
a la Obama and is so lacking in all ramifications that he/she would not
want these foibles to be revealed to the world. Thank God the president
has agreed to participate in ONE debate at least, before it becomes an
albatross on his campaign.

Nigerians were not
thrilled at his absence during the NN24 presidential debates. In
addition, the excuses proffered for his absence did nothing to assuage
one’s feelings. All candidates and especially the president must be
seen to grab EVERY opportunity they have to convince Nigerians that
they have the capacity. If campaigns had been planned before the debate
was finalised, it merely calls for prioritisation by the candidate.

What do the people
consider as the most effective way for candidates to show what plans
they have for the electorate: televised debate between candidates or
campaign at a stadium? We all know what happens at these stadium
campaigns: they hold at venues which will NEVER be available to the
opposition for their own campaigns; they are crowded with people who
will NEVER have an opportunity to ask ONE simple question of the
candidate; the candidate merely spews out what he THINKS he’ll do from
a speech, probably not written by him, and with no chance to question
the rationale behind his plans. The speech will be full of meaningless
clichés, which even the maker has repeated monotonously without emotion
forever.

Yes, as a
candidate, please don’t debate if you know you’ll fail; rather, rely on
making the rounds of every stadium, park and square in Nigeria. While
your colleagues are shifting misconceptions or confirming conceptions
about themselves, and making a great impression on the electorate a la
NN24-Shekarau-style, you can hope that one-on-one interaction is
overrated and at your own peril.

With a society that
thrives on gist, you will never live down not participating, but who
cares? Jokes will be made about how you demanded ‘EXPO’, didn’t get it
and withdrew. In fact, all your achievements in life, academically and
otherwise will be certified the result of ‘EXPO’. If/when you finally
agree to debate, people will then doubt the integrity of the medium you
choose. You know how it is, this integrity-doubting process: YOU become
the debate.

People will forever
question why you chose to do one and not the other? Is government
organising the one you are taking part in? Furthermore, focus on and
scrutiny of the questions put to you will be divertive: mild, the
questioner is dead meat; tough, with great answers, you saw ‘EXPO’. If
you don’t do well in the debate, you’ll be dead meat. Everyone will
criticize your sense of judgment, asking what type of president you
would be, when, knowing your inadequacy, you went ahead to participate
in a process that would embarrass, humiliate or ridicule? Is this how,
in spite of his and our limitations, he’ll embarrass, humiliate and
ridicule country and us?

Last count: Lagos
governor has participated in at least three debates with other
contenders. Every time they’ve appeared, people get a fresh chance to
continuously decide whom they want for governor. Some changed their
minds; some have not. But they got their opportunity to decide. If you
are a candidate and decide not to debate, you are within your rights to
not be rushed into doing something that you know you can’t excel at. At
least, if you did not write the exam, no one will really be able to
tell if you would have passed or not!