Posted by The PHC Telegraph on
Chief Godkows Sara-Igbe and one-time critic of Governor Peter Odili has challenged professor Tam David-West to a debate.....
Chief Godkows Sara-Igbe and one-time critic of Governor Peter Odili has challenged professor Tam David-West to a debate over his assertion that Governor Peter Odili is not fit to be president of Nigeria.
Sara-Igbe who described Professor David-West as his brother appeared on Kaakaki, an AIT current affairs programme.
Sara-Igbe's challenge came as a surprise to many Nigerians hooked unto the progrmme Tuesday morning.
Sara-Igbe said Odili's candidature had been well received across the country and noted it was the first time that the aspiration of any South-South personality is being taken seriously by the rest of the country.
The fierce critic of Odili in the years leading to the 2003 elections remarked Governor Odili is duly qualified to gun for the highest office in the land, stressing his former opponent has proved he has what it takes to aspire to the highest office in the land.
Sara-Igbe insisted that it is very imperative for the country to give the South-South people a chance to take a shot at the presidency at this time.
He took a swipe at Alhaji Umaru Dikko, saying that there is little or nothing the politician could do should the South-South people decide to shut down the flow of oil from the numerous oil facilities in their midst.
Asked what he thought of the comments credited to Professor David-West in a national daily, Sara-Igbe noted the Professor only meant to stir up a debate on the issue of Odili's candidature, saying however he was prepared to meet the Professor of Virology face to face to discuss the issue of the Odili ticket anywhere and any time.
He urged Professor David West to get closer to the leaders and people of the South-South in order to appreciate the seriousness of the South-South demand.
As he put it, David-West should borrow a leaf from Professor Ango Abdullahi whom he said was astutely canvassing for the enthronement of a northern president, saying that a time that the South-South geopolitical region is angling for the presidency it would be wrong for the Professor of \Virology to turn his back on his people.
David-West who recently commended Governor Peter Odili following his provision of funds to resuscitate the University of Science and Technology had said he did not believe Odili would be right for the presidency.
But Sara-Igbe disagreed.
In Port Harcourt, opinions were divided over Sara-Igbe's challenge; with some saying the fierce critic may have touched a tiger's tail.
Will David-West reply or would he keep mum? Many here think it is unlikely. They say David-West is likely to lash back at his critic, thus suggesting that the last of the controversy that Sara-Igbe's comments would elucidate is yet to come.
Should that happen, the stage would be set for an intellectual debate that promises to draw more people into the fray on both sides.