Political economist Pat Utomi has challenged President Bola Tinubu to confront his opponents in a debate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Utomi made the statement on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme.
He said Tinubu would be deceiving Nigerians if he could not stand alongside other presidential hopefuls and discuss policies affecting the country.
According to him, anyone seeking the presidency should be willing to defend their ideas and explain their plans to the electorate.
Utomi maintained that the President should demonstrate his commitment to Nigerians by engaging directly with rival candidates rather than avoiding public discussions.
He also urged Tinubu to visit state capitals and rural communities across the country to interact with citizens and hear their complaints.
The professor argued that presidential contenders should appear together on a common platform to discuss national issues and allow voters to assess their positions.
He said debates were fundamental to democracy because they give citizens the opportunity to compare candidates and determine who has better solutions to the country’s problems.
Utomi also referred to South Korea’s democratic experience, recalling that the country’s electoral commission had advised Nigerian officials on the importance of political debates.
He said the advice was given during a visit by Nigerian electoral officials led by former INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
According to Utomi, South Korea strengthened its democracy by organising debates in public spaces, school halls, on television and other locations.
He expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s democratic development, saying the country had reached a stage where citizens spent too much time defending political leaders instead of demanding accountability.
Utomi added that he felt personally troubled by the situation because of his efforts towards building a better Nigeria.
He criticised leaders who give excuses instead of accepting criticism and demonstrating their ability to govern effectively.
