Journalistsand commentators around the world have defended Journalist, Kadaria Ahmed,
anchor of #TheCandidates for asking PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakartough questions.Kadaria washeavily criticized following yesterday’s grilling on Atiku Abubakar and hisrunning mate Peter Obi.
PiusAdesanmi, a columnist and professor based in Canada described those criticizingthe moderator as people who “congenitallyprotect men of power”.
Mr. Adesanmi says Kadaria Ahmed was restoring “3 decades of brown envelopes killed after Dele Giwa’s generation”.
Another writer JJOmojuwa says Kadaria’s critics are people who “couldn’t relate to the seriousones”.
Mr. Omojuwa urged the critics to “focus on your campaigns. Leave Kadaria alone. “Like she did in the 2011 debates and has done ever since, she asked questions that other journalists would have pretended the viewers weren’t waiting to hear”.
Additional reporting
Kadaria Ahmed is a distinguished journalist withM.A, in Television from Goldsmiths, University ofLondon, and a Bachelor’s from Bayero University Kano.She is also a Chevening Scholar.
She started her career at the BBC where shewas a senior producer working on award-winning programs, Focus on Africa and Network Africa.
In 2014, she co-created, produced and presented Straight Talk,an interview programme designed to probe and confront Nigeria’s decision makerson matters of relevance.
The syndicated show grew to an audience of over 4 millionviewers globally. Some of her notable interview subjects include Ibrahim Babangida, TonyePrincewill,Babatunde Fashola, RotimiAmaechi, Ali Baba, ObyEzekwesili, among many others.
In 2017, she launched a new show called The Core onChannels TV.
In July 2017, she interviewed NnamdiKanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who madenews by declaring it’s “Biafra or death”.
In the build up to the February 2019 general elections, shemoderated the town hall meetings for presidential candidates and their deputies,specifically that of President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Professor YemiOsibanjo. Her recent interview was anchored yesterday where she hosts AtikuAbubakar and Mr Peter Obi, the PDP presidential candidate and running mate.
