By Simon Ateba/Lagos
Jimi Agbaje, the influential, charismatic, intelligent and respected candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Lagos State, has floored Akinwunmi Ambode, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, and others at a debate to know who can better lead the state, those who monitored it say.
“By miles, Mr. Agbaje was the star of the debate,” said one of Nigeria’s most influential online newspapers, Premium Times, whose team monitored the debate live in Lagos.
“He literally took other contestants to the cleaners with the masterful delivery, use of statistics and data from government and other international organisations,” the newspaper said.
Agbaje’s responses at the debate were so compelling that the audience was almost left speechless, the newspaper said.
”Unlike the raucous response some of the contestants elicited from the audience, any time Mr. Agbaje spoke, the audience stayed quiet,” Premium Times said, before scoring him 9 over 10, far ahead of Ambode who got 7 over 10.
The 2015 Lagos State Gubernatorial Debates held on Thursday at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos.
In informal conversations with ordinary residents in Lagos, while many have voiced their support for Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate, many have said that they needed change in Lagos State and Agbaje represented it more than any other candidate.
Agbaje highlighted his vision for Lagos from small businesses to a better education. He blasted Governor Babatunde Fashola of the APC for deporting Igbo people from Lagos to the Eastern part of Nigeria and promised that he will never deport any Nigerian in Nigeria.
“What makes Lagos bubble is the fact that it brings people from everywhere. The day you begin to deport Lagos becomes a village,” Agbaje said, an appeal to millions of Igbo men and women in Lagos, a critical voting bloc for the February election.
Akinwumni Ambode, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, did not perform badly but did not win the debate, Premium Times said.
“As the candidate of the incumbent party, Mr. Ambode was placed on the defensive most of the time and this affected his performance during the debate,” the newspaper said.
In fact, many who monitored the debate said Ambode spoke about continuity but failed to articulate his own plans, giving credence to the argument that he was only a stooge for Bola Tinubu, the APC leader who singlehandedly picked Ambode over other party aspirants in December.
“I am an accountant you can count on me. My call to you is to stand up and be counted,” Ambode said without applause or cheers.
Ambode promised to build an educational trust fund for the unemployed in Lagos as well as studio apartments for the youth of the state to ease the housing challenges in the state.
Ishola Aregbesola, the candidate of the Action Alliance came last in the debate, scoring only 1 over 10, and appearing like a mere political jobber with nothing to offer.
“Mr. Ishola was the class clown today and the butt of all jokes. He obviously hadn’t given the thought of becoming a governor any serious consideration. He seemed as one of those political jobbers who seek elective offices hoping to be called aside by the top parties and compensated with appointments,” the newspaper said.
Akele Ayodele, the candidate of the National Congress Party came second to last in the debate according to Premium Times. He scored 3 over 10.
“Mr. Ayodele spent most of his allotted time talking attacking the incumbent. He has a personal history with the party. Former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, who is the national leader of the APC, fired him from the state civil service for his unionist activities. He seemed to have allowed personal differences to dictate his delivery,” the newspaper said.
SimonAteba.Com team was out of the country when the debate took place on Thursday, but analyses by newspapers have virtually all given Agbaje the highest mark in the debate.
Other contestants included Abiodun Popoola, the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party, who thrilled the audience with his delivery and substance. He scored 6 over 10.
Others were Bola Ogunseye of the Alliance for Democracy who scored 6 over 10, as well as Jacobs Kayode of the Mega Progressives Party, who scored 5 over 10.
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