Politics
Atiku Returns To Nigeria, Ready To Debate Buhari
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is reportedly on his way back to Nigeria from the United States.
A reliable source within the Atiku Abubakar campaign confirmed to ORIENTAL TIMES that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is on his way back to the country ahead of the Presidential Debate scheduled for 6pm today, January 19, 2019 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
A member of the Atiku Abubakar campaign team, Steve Oliyide stated that Mr Abubakar would be available for the debate and he would only debate President Muhammadu Buhari who is the major contender in the presidential race.
Mr Oliyide said, “we are very much prepared I can assure you that Alhaji Abubakar is on standby, he would get to the venue of the debate, but if his opponent (Buhari) does not show up then you won’t call it a debate any longer, if Buhari fails to show up Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would address Nigerians at the the venue of the debate.”
When probed further Mr Oliyide stated that if the presidency presents Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the debate the Atiku Abubakar team would also make its vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi available to counter Osinbajo
Meanwhile there are strong indications that incumbent President Buhari would not be available for the debate in person, he might be represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
ORIENTAL TIMES recalls that the Social and Mainstream media went into frenzy when the news broke two days ago that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was in the United States where he met with key businessmen and politicians.