By Adewale Kupoluyi

THE high prevalence of corruption is antithetical to the development of any nation. This does not only render public institutions ineffective, it breeds impunity and lawlessness. How the alarming rate of corruption can be drastically reduced will surely be of interest to Nigerian voters this time around. It is not new to many that the image of the country outside is a source of utmost concern.

Whenever the name, Nigeria, is mentioned on the international scene, the reaction that one gets in often negative and embarrassing. This is more prevalent at embassies, airports and other global gatherings. Hence, the people are keen in knowing how their next president will revamp their country’s battered image abroad.

Many senior citizens and pensioners die daily because of neglect by the government. Their entitlements are rarely paid as at when due. Is this what they deserve after toiling for the nation for several years? And when would they get the succour? Nigerians need answers. Getting justice has become a mirage in this country. Our entire legal system appears to offer no hope for the ordinary man. We are regularly confronted with the miscarriage of justice.

The presidential aspirants will have to work hard to convince the electorate that they are capable of cleaning the Augean Stable. This fire gutting the judiciary and temple of justice may soon consume all if not urgently put out. Nigerians would seriously be interested in knowing this ‘fire-fighting’ techniques. There are certainly more burning issues requiring urgent attention but cannot be fully exhausted in this piece. In the past, the lukewarm attitude of some Nigerian politicians has not been encouraging. Such people should be voted out if they refuse to turn a new leaf.

Therefore, the need for this debate can never be wished away. We recall too that during presidential elections in the United States of America – a country we have chosen to adopt its political system – it is customary for the main candidates to engage in a debate, which is usually held late in the election cycle when the political parties would have nominated their candidates.

The candidates are allowed to interact before an audience by answering serious questions and unfolding their agenda for elections. Such debates are broadcast live on television, radio and the Internet. For instance, the US 1960 election drew over 66 million viewers out of a population of 179 million while that of 1980 debates drew 80 million viewers out of a 226 million people. The year 1992 featured the first debate involving both major-party candidates and a third-party candidate, Ross Perot, running against President George W. Bush and the Democrat nominee, Governor Bill Clinton. Recent debates have equally shown the impact of such during presidential polls in the US and other countries. The performance of the candidates at the debates eventually led to who won and lost out based on the objective discussion of national issues. That is why the position of the National Assembly on the presidential debate may not be in the best interest of the nation.

While gearing up for this exercise, to be held preferably by mid-January, its organisation and sponsorship should be purely by non-state actors while the people should be allowed to freely contribute to the debate.

The panelists, participants and moderators should comprise the civil societies, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), international community, professional bodies, political parties, youths, women group, among others.

There should be room for phone-in to truly allow for a robust discourse. When this happens, the voters would certainly be better equipped to make a well informed choice on their preferred candidate for the presidential election – after an issue-based interaction premised on sound argument – not on sentimental reasons as obtainable in the time past.

*Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.