2019 Presidential Debate: Naija News Monitoring Room/Live Reports

The presidential debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) ahead of next month’s Presidential election has commenced.

Naija News reports that the Presidential debate is taking place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the same venue where the vice-presidential debate held on Friday, December 14, 2018.

The debate is currently being transmitted live on all BON member stations and its affiliates and streamed live on all social media platforms.

Presidential candidates expected to partake of the presidential debate are the flagbearers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), the Alliance For New Nigeria (ANN) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

President Muhammadu Buhari is the candidate of the APC, Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President is the candidate of the PDP, Oby Ezekwesili, a former Education Minister is the candidate of the ACPN, Kingsley Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the candidate of the YPP and Fela Durotoye is the candidate of the ANN.

Naija News reports that the debate offers the platform for the presidential candidates to reveal to Nigerians their plans for the country as the nation prepares for the general elections in February and March.

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Live reports from the 2019 Presidential Debate:

7:10 PM – Candidates deliver their opening speeches:

‘My government would have a foundational approach to the issues in the country. ‘We would establish effective system where women and children would be part of the government. ‘We would equip women and children with skill acquisition programmes.’ – Kingsley Moghalu

‘Today, you will hear about ‘Former this and Former that’. I don’t come with any titles, but a passion and desire for the future of Nigeria. I want a Nigeria where the son of a NOBODY can become SOMEBODY without the help of ANYBODY’ – Fela Durotoye

“I bring with me a track record of being able to fix problems” – Oby Ezekwesili

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7:25 PM – Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar shows up at the venue of the debate but decided to leave the venue because of the absence of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari

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7:25 pm – Mark Eddo signals for a break

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7:29 pm: Back from break with Mark Eddo welcoming everyone.

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7:31 pm: Moghalu speaks on the economy.

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7:34 pm: Durotoye speaks on the sectors his government will focus. He names Agriculture, housing construction and road construction.

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7:37 pm: Ezekwesili speaks on the poverty level in Nigeria. Oby said her government will lift 80 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“Our plan is to lift at least 80 million Nigerians out of poverty”. She added: “Nigerian are poor because earn below N700 daily”.

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7:39 pm: Moghalu says his government will reduce the cost of governance. My government will reduce the cost expenditure to 50%.

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7:44 pm: Durotoye speaks on taxation.  His words: “I will be riding in a bus that carries other ministers”. We doon’t need 30 car convey to take the President to the airport.

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7:48 pm: Moghalu speaks on jobs creation. “My Presidency will be focused on innovasion”.

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7: 51 pm: Ezekwesili speaks on Atiku and Buhari’s absence: “I am not suprised they (Atiku and Buhari) are not here. They are just simply announced their exit from governance.”

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7: 53 pm: Durotoyespeaks on Atiku and Buhari absence: “It shows the future is here”.

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7:56 pm: Moghalu: “I am not suprised that the leaders of APC and PDP are not here. One reason why they are not here is cowardice. They cannot answer the questions.”

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7:57 pm: Break

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8:03 pm: Moghalu: speaks on insecurity. Says his government will have political will to tackle insecurity. He added that he will tackle corruption in the military. “We will bring intelligence. We will go to the people. We will work with the neighbouring country”. One of the reasons why there is corruption in the military is fighting Boko Haram”.

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8:05 pm:Durotoye speaks on insecurity. Says: “first we must ensure that the institutions, the security agencies are strengthened. The leadership of security agaencies will not be based oon nepotism.”

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8:08 pm: Ezekwesili speaks on insecurity. Says: “Number one is to send signal that there is a new sheriff in town. We will set up a swat team made up of the best brains in the country”.

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8:10 pm: Durotoye: Speaks on securing borders. “We will use technology. We will strengthen border control forces and invest in technological infrastructure”.

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8:13 pm: Moghalu speaks on kdinapping. Says: “My government will invest heavily in special ploice force. A 21st century police force.”

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8:16 pm: Ezekwesili speaks on unemployment.

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8:23 pm: Moghalu says “Nobody will complain about marginalization in my government”.

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8:29 pm: Ezekwesili speaks on educaion, says: “We will focuse on technical and innovasion education.”

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8: 32 pm: Durotoye speaks on education, says: “We must ensure that our teachers are cautious to the success of the students.”

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8:34 pm: Moghalu speaks on education, says: “We will begin 2020 budget with 20% on education. We will retrain Nigerian teachers. He ended with “I will end ASUU strike in Nigeria.”

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8: 40 pm: Durotoye speaks on his plans for public schools. Says: “We will ensure that any parent that keeps the child at home will be liable to go to jail.”

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8: 43 pm:  Moghalu speaks on his plans for public schools. Says: “We will invest heavily in public school. My government will make sceondray school free in this country.

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Candidates speak on plans for health sector.

8: 43 pm: Moghalu: “My government will focuse on the quality of health care provision in this country”.

8: 45 pm: Ezekwesili: “We will connect health to economic productivity.”

8:48 pm: Durotoye: “We will ensure that we work with the local government and the state government”. He added: “Anyone below the age of five will get free healthcare including pregnant women.”

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9:00 pm: Break.

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9:07 pm: Moghalu speaks on corruption

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9:09 pm: Durotoye speaks on corruption. Says: “APC corruption crusade is selcetive” and that the ruling party use it to “threaten people join them.”

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Candidates speak on the Girl Child

9:14 pm: Moghalu: “We will work against early marriage for the girl child.”

9:16 pm: Durotoye: “We will ensure that every girl child has access to education. We secure the “girl schools.”

9:18 pm: Ezekwesili: “We will give insentives to the grils that want to go to school.”

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Candidates give their last statements

9: 21 pm: Moghalu: “It is time for something new and something bold, that something new is with the Young Progressives Party through my candidacy. I am ready and it is time. Thank you. Vote for YPP.”

9:22 pm: Durotoye: “My brother and sister every 20 years something happens in this country. Power will shift in 2019 and it has to go to people that have no political shackles.”

9:23 pm: Ezekwesili: “This is your moment. I have spoken to you as one who cares. I can assure that my running for President is not to be called madam President but so that we willl mobolise ourelves to save our nation. It is possible.

 

That was Naija News Monitoring Room and Live Reports of the 2019 Presidential Debate. See you again next month for the Presidential election .