By our reporter| The debate organised by BBC News Pidgin for candidates in the September 19 Edo state governorship election ended abruptly on Friday after governor Godwin Obaseki excused himself from the debate just at the beginning and asked his deputy to stand-in for him.
Obaseki, had featured briefly in the virtual debate but stepped out to attend another meeting and asked the moderator and his co-panelists to allow his deputy, Philip Shaibu, to continue the debate in his stead.
This, however, did not go down well with his main challenger, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who refused to debate with Shaibu.
Obaseki said, “First, I wan’ thank una say una invite me come this programme, make we debate among ourselves, make we fit talk wetin we wan do for the people of Edo State.
“But make I first start by apologising. You see, as I dey now, I no dey Benin. I had to travel on emergency this evening come somewhere. And the meeting dey very important. But abi tell una, so my deputy dey on ground. E no get anything wey I dey do wey im no know.
“So, I say out of respect, make I first do this opening round, I will rush go the meeting, and hopefully my deputy go continue.”
A visibly irritated Ize-Iyamu responded, “Abeg make I talk small for wetin Governor Obaseki talk. This debate na for governorship candidates, no be wetin den dey delegate. If he no go fit stay, he no go fit stay.
“But say he wan’ comot make im deputy go come dey follow us debate, I no get hand for that one. If he no dey ready, make im no say, he no wan’ debate with us.
“But if he wants to debate, he has to stay but me no go sit down with im deputy. If na deputy own, I go call my deputy make im come talk with im deputy. No be me and im deputy dey debate, na governorship debate.”
Obaseki later left Ize-Iyamu and Jones Osagiobare of the Young Progressives Party to continue with the debate. His deputy, Shaibu, did not, however, feature at the debate.
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