By Nicholas Ojo
The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has again stayed away from the Presidential Town Hall meeting organised by Arise News for candidates of the major four political parties on Sunday night.
Bola Tinubu, on Saturday morning, the eve of the Presidential Town Hall meeting left the country for United Kingdom ahead of his scheduled engagement at Chatham House in London on Monday.
The APC standard bearer is expected to speak on Security, Economy and Foreign Policy.
Tinubu had failed to show up at the November series of the town hall, which is an initiative of Arise Television and the Centre for Democracy and Development.
His campaign team had, defended the APC candidate’s absence in previous edition, citing bias and partisanship on the part of the television station’s anchors.
However, those aspiring for the highest office in the country were grilled on issues ranging from Education, Healthcare, Poverty and Human Capital, on Sunday night.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was present at the series, failed to make a commitment that he would use Nigerian health facilities if elected president of the country.
Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), were the other two candidates at the event.
One of the anchors had asked the candidates if they could declare their health status and also use health facilities in the country if elected.
Kwankwaso, who took the lead, said doctors had certified that he had 30 more years, stating that he was ready to make his status known and would make use of Nigerian facilities as he had been doing.
Atiku followed next by saying he would declare his health status if the need arises. Adding that Nigerian health facilities that carter for his health may not be available, when asked if he was prepared to use facilities in the country.
While he spoke on his plans for ensuring that healthcare delivery is readily available and affordable.
“The Nigerian health facilities that carter for my health may not be available. You know that we have limitations. We have been talking about those limitations.
“I will review the Nigeria Health Insurance Scheme system initiated while I was Vice President, and make it inclusive and affordable for all Nigerians.
“We need to first address the issue of primary healthcare. After addressing this, which affects the majority of our citizens, then we can focus on the secondary and tertiary levels. The truth is that we are not investing enough as a government in the medical sector.”
On his part, Obi said he was ready to make his health status public, adding that he had no problem using Nigerian hospitals.
He said he made use of such facilities when he was governor of Anambra.
He said, “It is actually required that those aspiring to lead should be able to make their medical records available to the public. And two, I have served as a governor. While serving as governor, I resuscitated some facilities and I used them. I’m still using them till today. I believe that If there’s any issue of referral from them, I mean if there’s a situation that our healthcare can’t handle, I will not say everybody must be restricted here. As for my position, I use the facilities here and I believe in them. And I can tell you that they are very competent. All we need is to believe in them. I have shown you how we can use insurance to prove that everyone can be cared for.”