 On the breakfast this morning, the Independent National Electro-Commission releases a final list, has released a final list of presidential candidates for all the political parties contesting the next General Elections. We'll look at the implications of this on the program today. Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students has drawn a timetable for its nationwide protests. We'll release this on Monday. We'll discuss this with the Vice President of the Association, and also we will look at the headlines on the pages of today's National History, analyzing the biggest stories of the day. We call it, of the press. We're back with a breakfast and plus TV Africa. My name is Kofi Bartels, a beautiful Thursday morning, and we have another round of discussions and analysis of the important issues that matter to you right here on the program. Once again, you're welcome. Alongside Mercier Popo, we'll be doing justice to the topics on the program with our guests and analysts today. All right, as usual, we have a top trending segment. It's what we would always start the program with, looking at what discussions are going on online, on social media, where the word trending is synonymous. Of course, the situation in the People's Democratic Party has been talked about a lot, really, with the leaders in the party, the big personalities in the People's Democratic Party, not being able to get their acts together to be able to form one single front ahead of the 2023 presidential election. Now, this has been a problem. It's been back and forth between here and some weekend, who came second in the party's presidential primary, and Attico Abu Bakar, who won the party's presidential primary. Of course, Attico Abu Bakar paid a visit to Yesoumiikei to say, you know what, probably no Victor, no Vanquish, like Chris Ngigge said yesterday after in reaction to the industrial court order to Asoumiikei. But immediately Yesoumiikei landed in Port Hackett. He was complained after the other. He didn't have some nice words to say about his experience in Abuja. Fingered some persons, especially Governors from the South, who went back on their word to support the Southern candidate emerging as the presidential or Southern as parents, emerging as a presidential candidate of the party. He's gone from there to Yesoumiikei, Governor of the state, and those members of the PDP who support him who are on his side. His group, we can call it baby, his faction, if you want to use that word. Calling for the resignation of the party's chairman, Senator Yochayu, former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under Lucia Gombasangir. You can see pictures of Yesoumiikei there. He's used several occasions, commissioning and flag of projects in river state that usually would have live national television coverage paid for by the river state government. He's used these occasions to talk and castigate the PDP, his party, and of course, Atiku Abu Bakar. Well, the latest is that members of the PDP who are in the camp of Yesoumiikei had a meeting on Wednesday morning, yesterday morning, and rising from that meeting, they announced that they were withdrawing from the campaign council of the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abu Bakar. Well, the wiki camp is saying that they will not be part of the Atiku campaign activities pending the resignation of the party's national chairman, Yochayu Ayu. Now, they made this resolution in the early hours of Wednesday in a special meeting they held at Governor wiki's private and sprawling residents on other Georgia road, will be at the local government area of river state. They agreed members also are vowing not to associate with the party's campaign activities for Atiku until Ayu's matter on resignation is settled. And what they're simply saying is that we can't have the presidential candidate of the party being from the northern part of Nigeria and the chairman of the party also coming from the northern part of Nigeria if we couldn't stick to the principle of rotation of the presidential ticket or candidacy to the south, at least let's have the chairmanship of the party from the south to ensure equity, ensure balance as well in accordance with the dictates of the PDP constitution. All right, so that is what they're saying. The wiki camp is growing larger, the wiki camp is growing wider. More people are joining the fray. Wiki seems to be the one who is a unifier, if you want to look at the words of Atiku Abu Bakar. Now, Ola Bode George, one of the leaders of the PDP in the southwest and in Lagos state. He's a former deputy national chairman of the party. It's part of the group. Yes, he is. The meeting included some current and former governors, founding members of the PDP, former ministers, and leaders of the party. We never seen Ola Bode George pass part of this meeting at wiki's residence in Podhakot. That picture in front of his door, you can see it's growing. Look at the picture there, it's growing. I don't know if Atiku Abu Bakar is seeing what's going on. But chief Ola Bode George, it was read the resolution. And he said that they were deeply concerned about the division in the People's Democratic Party, despite the party's age, long internal mechanism designed to guarantee inclusiveness. And they maintained that their position was not negotiable as the chairmanship of IU undermined the unity and the constitution of the party. They further accused the national chairman of the PDP of compromising the May 28 and 29 presidential primary of the party through his conduct. Do you remember he went to Tambua, followed Atiku Abu Bakar on a visit to Tambua because Atiku was visiting some of his co-aspirants and he was hailing Tambua. And wiki didn't see that as being funny. He's talked about that in the past. So this is where they stand. Part of those who were at that meeting was one of those there was a former platoon state governor, Senator Jonah Jang, who has been in Port Haco in recent weeks or months, even did a flag off, he drove a road catapilla to do a flag off. He's recently had, I think, a court case go in his favor, one of those cases against him. I think it's border and corruption or something. I need to check. But since then he's had a court case go in his favor and, you know, kudos to him, congratulations to him. He's found his voice and he said that for court, for a national chairman to go and embrace the so-called to-state governor, calling him a hero, you know, in that clip, when the team from the PDP, including Atiku, went around visiting, IU said, you're a hero, you're a hero. Now Tambua stepped aside and threw his weight behind Atiku Abu Bakar in that presidential primary. So what Jonah Jang said is that Tambua or Yoche, are you calling Tambua a hero of the convention? You are a hero of the convention, meant that there was a private arrangement that was done with Tambua to shortchange other contestants, including Governor Wike. So you're a hero of the convention. Does it mean that we arrange something behind the scene? I mean, if Tambua stepped down, is it not his right to step aside and say, I'm throwing my weight behind one of the candidates normal in politics? But this is what Jonah Jang says. It means that there was a behind-the-scene arrangement with Tambua to shortchange other contestants, including Governor Wike. This is what Jonah Jang said, more of what he said. He was a referee who helped one of his sides to score a goal and then blew the whistle. This is not what we formed the PDP to do for Nigerians. This is that, therefore, we are unequivocally asking that you must step down. All right. The Yoche governor, Shane McKinlay, was also part of that meeting. Don't forget, as one of the leaders of PDP in the Southwest, because it's one of the two governors of the People's Republic Party in Nigeria Southwest, when Atiku visited the Southwest to consult its stakeholders of the party, McKinlay had to host him in Ibaro, the Yoche capital. And he described Atiku as the incoming president of Nigeria in 2023, but he said that you must step aside. And this is what he said after the meeting at Wike's house. You can see the likes of Donald Duke and others there. We hope that the powers that be listen to the voice of reason and do the needful. Others were joining the growing team. Team Wike included Professor Jerry Gunner, who's the foreign minister of information. He's also done one or two project commissioning of flag-offs in River State recently. He also said a couple of things. I won't go into details, but pictures are also on the internet. I see Lucegou Mimiko there, as so Donald Duke, I see him there. Iofayoshi is also there. Iofayoshi has been in between sort of, he's been a Wike loyalist, but he recently said that, you know, those who, Artiku is not the problem, but those who are misinforming Artiku and trying to create a problem between Artiku and Wike are the problem. So it's a growing list, a growing list, and we'll only monitor to see what will come out of this. I'm sure, of course, the nation needs to have something to say about that this morning. So let's move on to our next trending story. All right, now, of course, yesterday we were expecting to hear the outcome of a court sitting over the ASU strike. Don't forget the federal government had approached the National Industrial Court. Let's just describe it as that. They had approached the National Industrial Court to wade into the impasse between it and the striking lecturers under the ages of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. ASU, the federal government took ASU to court. This is what people have been saying. But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Dr. Chris Ingege, has told everyone who cares to listen that the federal government didn't take ASU to court. It's what he said a couple of days ago at an NLC event. I think it's NLC at 40. He said the federal government didn't take ASU to court. He said, when there seemed to be no way, all right, there's a gospel song that says God will make a way when there seemed to be no way. But Ingege says that he is not God to make a way when there seemed to be no way. So when there seemed to be no way in the negotiations way forward between him on behalf of the federal government or the Ministry of Education on behalf of the federal government and ASU, that Section 17 of the Trade Disputes Act of 2004 kicked in. Which says that if there's no headway, I'm just quoting it loosely now, there's no headway, no way forward, the Minister should approach a national industrial court, refer the matter, let's call it a refer the matter to the national industrial court so they can determine which way to go. Both parties should go. Now, this is why Inge educated us to say we didn't take ASU to court. This is just in obedience to the Trade Dispute Act Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act 2004. So well, the matter has been in court. Now, all those people are saying, oh, the national industrial court has told us to end their strike. National industrial court did not tell us to end their strike. What they did was to give a ruling on an application for interlocutory injunction by the lawyers to the federal government. All right. And that interlocutory injunction simply means that the party affected is ordered to stop doing something or to return to the status quo ante. So they will have to go back to the classroom. While the case continues, like lawyers from both sides or parties said after the court case yesterday hearing, yesterday, pending the determination of the substantive matter. All right. Pending the determination of the substantive matter. So this is by no means the end of this case. This is by no means the end. So the court is simply saying, we are granting this ordering an interlocutory injunction on ASU strike. You are to return to the classroom whilst we continue listening to both sides. Of course, the judge can't just make that order. It has to be based on a ruling or an application, sorry, for interlocutory injunction from the other party this time being the federal government. So the lawyer made that application and said, OK, fine, I give it to you and I order ASU to go back to the classroom pending the determination of the substantive matter. What we're hearing from the union, the striking lectures, is that they will appeal this order, this ruling. They'll appeal it. Counsel to the government, James Seagway, had prayed the court for that interlocutory injunction restraining ASU from taking further steps as regards to strike pending the determination of the substantive suit. All right. So the council had submitted that section 18, sub 1, E, of the trade dispute act provides that employees cannot be on strike when a matter is before the industrial court. Employees cannot be on strike when a matter is before the industrial court. So that is that. I think it's black and white. People have been emotionally saying, oh, the judge, does he not have a child? Does he not have, maybe he or she or she doesn't have children in Nigeria University. That's why he's given such an order. But the thing is this, as a judge, a member of the bench, you are expected. If you get to that position, it means that you merit it. You're expected to be impassioned. You're expected to be fair. You're expected to not make judgments or give orders based on how you feel or based on how many children you have in Nigerian University. You're meant to make orders and things based on black and white. What is on paper? What is on paper? So I think people need to understand what is going on here. People need to understand the laws, the relevant laws and even what the federal government is relying on to approach the national industrial court. I think ASO themselves, because some people have been saying they shouldn't go back to the classroom. Indeed, when the ASO leadership led by their national president met with House of Representatives Speaker right Honourable Femme Bajabia Mila yesterday, two days ago, two nights ago. He made a statement. He said that you know what the federal government or the court, if they rule against as a force as to go back to the classroom, like telling a doctor who doesn't want to treat a patient, to treat that patient, he's asking now, will you, federal government or with the court, will anybody want to be treated by such a doctor? Will anybody want to be treated by such a doctor? Sort of saying that well you can force a horse to the river but you cannot force it to drink water. You can force a horse to the river but you can't force it to drink water. So it remains to be seen if the lecturers will obey this court order. But ASO is saying they're going to appeal it and I'm sure that they know the implications of not obeying the court order. Something called contempt of court and it simply means that if you don't obey what the court says or you go against the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction you could be charged and found guilty of contempt of court and going by the criminal code what I saw there, I don't know if that affects this case but by the criminal code simply it's, there should be three months imprisonment for anyone who defies court order, you know. And some people are saying no, don't mind the government federal government they always, they don't obey court orders, you know, you have several cases in point, oh yes, yes, yes that might be true. But you see if they don't obey court orders and a judge does not find them guilty of contempt should you go and also put yourself in that situation because he shouldn't say what happened to the groups who happened to meet the gander, you know. So I think ASO aware that there's nothing emotional about this. I think they're aware and have some legal advice. I mean, Chief Femi Falano is involved in this, he'll give them sound advice that we have to tread cautiously, go back to the classroom or let's appeal and let's see what happens. So they're going to appeal this ruling, let's see how it pans out. There's nothing emotional about this. If they don't go to the classrooms it'll be contempt of court and the leadership of ASO could be spending the next three months in prisons. I think, I hope I'm correct with that. Alright, let's move back to Lagos state. Some video training on social media a couple of days ago showing certain persons suspected to be members of the operatives of the parks and garages body, the newly formed parks and garages body, sort of custom made for MCO Lomo who is the head, forcing a tricycle, commercial tricycle operator to buy a sticker, a sticker that has the face of politicians on it that has a face of politicians on it bearing the picture of the chairman of the Lagos state parks and garages management committee MCO Lomo, officially known. His government name is Liu Akinso, yeah. Also bearing the face of Governor Babaji De San Olu and also bearing the face of APC presidential candidate Boala Mettinbo. There was a deluge of condemnation you can see that. I think we should just listen to that clip and then we'll come back. Let's go. Hope Lagos states the notice of the Lagos state parks and garages chairman is hereby on the fake and malicious moves and motives of elements vetting, tarnishing the image and prestige of our home state chairman, Dr. Moussiliu and the Akinsoya on the purpose of displaying media stickers of our state chairman with that of the presidential candidate of APC. He's only made and that of Governor Babaji De Olu San Olu and forcing commuters and operators to buy the stickers for the sum of 1000 Naira. These are punitive moves and motives of disgruntled elements to show the image of our chairman and and bring to dispute which the towing popularity of and and Babaji De Olu San Olu. We have by the bank this malicious move it does not emanate from Lagos and garages and our state chairman we never stoop so low to the extent of doing all this thing and we use this medium to run all our political elements who have all bent in distorting the fragile peace, tranquility onness and togetherness we enjoy in Lagos and Nigeria in particular so we are using this medium to say equivocally that this sticker did not emanate from Aladji Dr. Musiliwa in the Akinsoya we will never stoop so low to the extent of forcing stickers on somebody even to the extent of forcing stickers on someone with political intention so for the public we have by the bank this in totality so thank you so much up Lagos state progress Thank you so much Thank you very much God bless you God bless you God bless you God bless you God bless you God bless you God bless you In case you got it mixed up MCO Lo Mo is not the one who was speaking he was the one who was saying yes, yes, yes it's true, yes and he is the one in the blue cup first cup there but I wish we could go back to the clip showing the stickers being foisted on a taxi driver that's a tricycle taxi operator is that available? Ok let's go then I don't have pain I don't have pain I don't have this sticker I don't have this one I don't have room to put this I don't have room to put this Because I've got it on my hand I don't have one in my hand I don't have one in my hand I don't have one in my hand put this one that's what it means put them on your hand So that's a drama, you know, some of the taxi operators be tricycle, motorcycle, normal vehicles or buses have to go through in Lagos State, it's nothing strange. They pay all sorts of rates, all sorts of levies, you know, some of them pay as much as 500 a day. Some pay as much as an amount of money per trip, you know, per trip. And so it's not, you know, surprised that a lot of people who believe the narrative that M. C. Oluomo who was asked a while ahead of the national road transit workers in Lagos State, but of course they kicked him out and the government found him some other thing to do. He's still in charge of the motor parks and transportation, you know, tax collection in Lagos State. It's more of a tax collection thing really, you know, how much can be made from the deliberations, you know, of these transport workers, nothing about the welfare of the workers, mostly about the taxation. And you can understand why people would suspect. But here's come out and I give credit to M. C. Oluomo for putting this statement out to say he doesn't know about it. But I mean, some people saying, okay, you know what, he said he's too big for it, you know, what is 1,000 Nair. But M. C. Oluomo, I mean, of course, who you are today, what you are, is as a result of, you know, your hard work, hard work in ensuring that these daily tolls, these daily levies, these daily rates or taxes are paid by the transportation workers. So, you know, if you multiply 1,000 Nair by all the tricycles in Lagos State, you know what we're talking about. Some people have made allegations that they are forced to buy first caps, you know, to wear, that show the picture of Tinibu campaigning for him and all that. We cannot substantiate these claims, but these are some of the things flying around there. I think, I mean, M. C. Oluomo has spoken for himself, and so that's that. Hopefully, the police can wait, it's something worth investigating. The police should wait into this matter to find who the people are who are selling these tickets. They're captured on film. Someone filmed them. So, the police needs to wait into this because this isn't offense, really. It's extortion. The police needs, if the police in Lagos State does not wait into this to arrest the people concerned, then, of course, they won't be doing their job. We have to go, we will take a detour at this point, and when we come back, we'll look at the headlines and the front pages of the national dailies. A. Z. K. O. E. I. T. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O.