By Lucky Isibor
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been called upon to make political debates compulsory in the nation’s electoral system and urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to reflect it.
The call was made in Benin City on Friday, ,13 September by six governorship candidates of the seventeen candidates contesting the September 21 Edo State governorship election at the Governorship Election Debate organised by the Independent Television (ITV) and Radio as part of efforts to make the people make informed choice on polling day.
Among the governorship candidates who attended the debate are Oberaifoh Udo of the Africa Action Congress (AAC), Derek Izedomwen of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Isaiah Osifoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Azemhe Azena of the New Nigeria Democratic Party (NNDP), Patience Ndidi Ofure of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Paul Okungbowa Ovbokha of the Young Democratic Party (YPP).
Candidates of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party were absent at the debate.
While emphasising the imperatives of debates and public engagements in the scrutiny of those contesting elections into public office, the participating governorship candidates called on Edo people to reject candidates of political parties who refused to participate in the debate.
They also appealed to political parties who are boasting of using federal might to unleash violence during the election and manipulate the process to have a rethink and allow the people to make their choice during polling without let or hinderance.
They called on the security agencies, INEC and other stakeholders in the Edo election to be patriotic and give all the participating political parties a level playing field, noting that the feed back they are getting from the nooks and crannies of the state as they compaign from community to community indicates the people yearn for a genuine change.
The candidates articulated their plans for the state in the areas of education, health care, security, agriculture, provision of infrastructure and welfare of the people.
While some of them emphasised the need to revive Bendel Brewery and other abandoned industries in the state, which they say can create employment and generate billions of naira into government coffers.
They all agreed that in the area of tourism, Edo State has so much potentials to develop and earn revenue for the state to carry out development.
They also agreed that agriculture must take the centre stage where they will go into food processing industries and produce in large quantities and have enough to export to generate more revenue.
In the area of security, they agreed that security is the bedrock of development. They therefore vowed to invest in security to save farmers and other citizens of the state.
The candidates agreed that economic empowerment for the people will enhance parents’ ability to send their children to school adding that this will reduce out of school children.
While emphasising training and retraining of teachers they pointed out that they’ll be properly remunerated
On revenue generation to drive the economy of the state, they all agreed that attracting investors to invest in the state will grow the economy and reduce unemployment. They further said that through those businesses the state can realize more taxes to build other infrastructure.
A novelty was also introduced into the debate as ITV, the organisers put fact checking devices and personnel to check the truth or falsity of the claims of the candidates.