You’re Dishonest If You Can’t Debate Your Opponents, Utomi Tells Tinubu

Professor Pat Utomi, a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged President Bola Tinubu to debate major contenders in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that public debates and direct engagement with Nigerians are essential to democracy.

Utomi said the president should be willing to stand alongside other presidential contenders and engage them in policy discussions rather than give excuses for avoiding such encounters.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News Prime Time on Thursday, the political economist also urged Tinubu to visit state capitals and rural communities to interact directly with Nigerians.

“If the president cares about the Nigerian people, he should stand in every state capital, go to some rural areas, pump hands with the people. That’s how we know democracy works,” he said. Adding that “He should stand side by side with the major contestants for that same office and debate,” he said.

Citing South Korea as an example, Utomi recalled how debates across different platforms contributed to the country’s democratic development.

“We’ve talked a lot about South Korea and how South Korea’s democracy was rescued. The very electoral commission of South Korea advised their Nigerian counterparts when Professor Jega led them to visit years ago, that they rescued South Korea by ensuring that debates took place on the streets, in school halls, on television, and everywhere,” he said.

The NDC member maintained that candidates seeking similar public office are not willing to engage their opponents on policy issues and explain their proposals to voters then they are being being dishonest

“If you can’t stand side by side by somebody contesting for the same position and engage in policy discussion, you have been totally dishonest to the people you are offering to serve,” he said.

Utomi also expressed concern over what he described as the deterioration of Nigeria’s democracy, saying political leaders were increasingly given excuses instead of being held accountable for their responsibilities.

“I tell you, I feel so bad, personally, in the struggle that I have put into nation-building in Nigeria, to watch our democracy deteriorate to the point where we spend most of our time nursing our leaders, and they give all kinds of excuses rather than accept that they are not well,” he said.

Reflecting on previous administrations, Utomi recalled his reservations about former President Muhammadu Buhari’s capacity when he contested for office, saying he had hoped Buhari would tackle corruption.

He said, “Look, I said when General Buhari was going into power, or was running for office, at a point, I recognised his capacities were significantly diminished.

“And I held on to one thin thread. He will fight corruption. It turned out he wasn’t present.

“He couldn’t fight anything. And Nigeria went back at least 40 years.”

Utomi also praised the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, describing him as a leader whose presidency could have significantly benefited Nigeria, but lamented what he characterised as his absence from the responsibilities of office.

“Yar’Adua was a great, great person. And I’ve talked a lot about the exchanges, conversations that I had with him as president. Nothing could have done Nigeria a great good, or greater good, than a Yar’Adua presidency. But Yar’Adua was not present,” he said.

He added that Nigeria was experiencing a similar situation again, accusing political actors of making excuses rather than addressing concerns about leadership and accountability.

Utomi further argued that Nigerians should demand presidential debates across the country as part of the process of assessing candidates before the 2027 elections.

“If the Nigerian people are real people, they will say that anybody who does not debate in the 36 states of the country is not fit to be a president,” he said.

The comments come as political rallies by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

LEADERSHIP reports that during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu said he would prioritise governance and might not attend all campaign rallies organised by the party.

According to the APC’s campaign schedule, the president is expected to attend rallies in just 12 cities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as the ruling party prepares for the 2027 presidential election.