 I heard on the breakfast, I heard of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria, several significant judgments have been issued by various courts across the country in the course of the year. We'll look at the significance of these judgments. Also on the breakfast, like always, we'll have a sports journalist join us on the conversation. And don't forget, we'll also look through today's newspapers. So we analyse the biggest stories on the front pages on the breakfast. We call it on the press. We're back with the Breakfast of Plustivy Africa. Very good morning to you. My name is Kofi Bartels. And I am Mrs. Poposka to have you join us this morning. Yes indeed. We have interesting conversations for you. So we implore you to sit back, relax and enjoy the programme. I guess already standing by where they are getting set to come on give us fantastic analysis. You'll enjoy it today. And we can say compliments of the season to you and Merry Christmas in a first. Today will be last day. We'll be here I think before Christmas. Am I correct? Merci. Yes indeed. Yes, so it's very it's very OK to say Merry Christmas. Absolutely. Christmas is on the first of. It's on Sunday. It's on Sunday. I have a problem with the firsts. Yes indeed. It's on a Sunday. So we just want to wish all of you watching this programme this morning, the very best of the Christmas celebration and whatever you do, please remember that there is life after the 25th. So we should all be just careful and, you know, do our little best. Let's move on to our top training second. Merci is a particular one. It's quite interesting. I've been thinking about this story because I've seen it. A number of times were passed 24 to 48 hours. The Argentine Central Bank are reportedly considering putting the face of the football superstar Lionel Merci on Argentine bank notes on Argentine bank notes. You can see a sample of the notes there and quite interesting to see if this will see the light of the day. Don't forget until I want to walk up. Last weekend and Merci was the captain of the team and he's a global icon. He has become the face of Argentina football. So Argentina Central Bank is reportedly considering a lot of Merci bank note to commemorate this first walk of the one since 1986 in Mexico, Mexico 86. Merci has since the superstar of the team and the leader of the team. According to an Argentine newspaper, El Financiero, the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina, they said that they are eager to mark the national team's historic win in Qatar and they've been working on it, working on ideas since before the epic final, the 4-2 penalty win over France. You know, people have been creating mock-ups. You know, what we've seen on the screen are mock-ups. These are not the any design from the same from that bank Central Bank of Argentina. These are mock-ups of the 1,000 peso note being done, you know, by people on the internet and if it's gone viral, fans are eager to see it in circulation. You know, according to El Financiero, they say that a key part of the reason behind the 1,000 peso bill is that it brings with it a 10, which is number, Merci's chef number for Argentina. So that's it. From some of what we've seen, how Merci's face is on the front side, the coach of the team, his name is Carloni, but his nickname is Las Calonieta, is a wording that they are proposing to have at the back of the note. So it's not just about Merci, but also about the coach who also guided this team to achieve this feat. It's not the first time it's happened. In 1978, the Argentina national team that won its first walk-up at home had a commemorative coins issued to celebrate it. And that was when it was done. Also, Argentina has produced commemorative coins to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the great first lady of that country, Eva Perion. And that was issued some time ago. So anyway, it remains to be seen how and whether this will be done. Well, what it is, I mean, if you look at the reaction on social media, how Nigerians have reacted to this, especially those who are fans of Merci, supporting Argentina. We saw that during the walk-up has actually played out differently. And some people are saying, oh, really, what happens to the likes of Maradona? Well, if you're going to have Merci, so then you need to have Maradona also. You need to have the face of Maradona. But I mean, this is a Nigerians that are actually making this comment and reacting to this, you know, possible action by the central bank in Argentina. But whether or not it is, one of the things that I know that it probably might vary, the policy or the need to have characters on the notes, now might vary according to the country or, you know, the continent. I don't know if there's any uniformity. But one of the things that I know that's very, very same is that if you find out those who are on the characters on the note of every currency across the globe, whether it's the dollar, whether it's the Naira, whether it's the Peso, whatever it is you want to call it, is the CD. These are persons who have, you know, have some significance importance. For instance, I mean, they have contributed significantly. Maybe their politicians or they probably would have been very valid and important to the economic space of the country politically or otherwise. For instance, if you look at the Nigerian Naira notes, I like to bring that to comparison is that you have the likes of Tafawa Balewa, a large Tafawa Balewa, the first prime minister of Nigeria. And, of course, he was unfortunately assassinated during that first military coup in Nigeria. You want to go on to the 20 Naira notes. I don't remember last time I saw 20 Naira notes, though, it's a lot. And the 10 Naira notes and the five Naira notes you see, these are persons who have contributed, you know, they have contributed a lot to, you know, the growth and development of the country. They've done something that's suspended. That's the point. And that's why they're being used. So yes, for Argentina, the reason for all of this is that, you know, the historic win of the World Cup in Qatar for 2022, because the last time that was a win was in 1986, and that was in Mexico. And so, yes, it's probably valid, depending on, you know, because every country has their policy and whatever it is, it probably might value the reason to have all of these characters on the currency. I think it varies depending on the values that this country uphold and whatever it might be. But some people think that, you know, Messi deserved to be on that. But if Messi does really deserve to be on, you know, the note, a character on the note, then what happens to the like of Maradona? Shouldn't he also have a space to be there? That's it. I mean, it's an interesting conversation. You know, what many people say, you know, Maradona, shouldn't Maradona be on the Argentine currency? Shouldn't there have been a commemorative currency to celebrate 86? I think Maradona deserves, you know, that really deserves that even more than Messi, if I must be fair. Because if he did extraordinarily well, I mean, a lot of what happened in 1986 was down to the brilliance of Maradona. He dragged that team across the line, even having to score a goal with his hand, you know, to secure a victory in the semifinal against three Lions of England. Just to get the ball past Peter Shilton, he had to use his hand. And that's why they used the famous hand of God, you know, so it's it's it's a valid point when people say, you know, that Maradona should also have had something, especially looking at iconic status of Diego Armando Maradona. But let's look at the some reasons why the Argentine central bank will want to do something like this. I think that we can we can apart from looking at the significance of the victory of Argentina and the road that Messi played. He also played a significant role. I don't think without Messi, the Argentine team would have won the World Cup because he scored two goals in the semifinals. However, however, he played a very significant role. But there are other reasons I can think of off the top of my head, why this would be good. The Argentine currency has been struggling in the Argentine economy has been struggling for some time. I'm wondering if this will also be sort of a shot in the arm for the Argentine currency and the Argentine economy. Because I know that if such a commemorative beat commemorative or permanent note is issued, there will be a high demand for this note around the world. You know, people who want to have it and keep it in their homes frame it. It's because especially fans of neo Messi who come from all over the place, you know, they want to just have it and just keep it from Spain to France to even Nigeria. Yeah, people just want to have this. Now, if to me, if you have this being the case, there may be a soaring demand for this current this Argentine currency. And if there's a soaring demand, I think the law of supply and demand kicks in. Because the value of the Argentine currency will go up. I mean, people want to even give us dollars in exchange for just 1000 pesos. So I am curious to see if this will happen. And I think if it does, it will be a master stroke from the central bank of Argentina. It's for one. Oh, then let's move on to the next one. And a top trending is that Nigerians have taken to social media to share their experience as regard being denied visa outside of the country. Really, the jackpot. I feel like we're actually in the era where there's a lot of plans to jackpot. All right. And so a lot has actually happened. But even prior to this time, I think that a lot of persons also would have been denied visa even prior to 2022 2020 2021. And what have you to spend several experience about that. But you know, the several of these comments, one, you have this tweet, especially on Twitter, dial at I underscore am me says the consular second question for student visa interview was, what is a closer city to your school? In my head, I was like, excuse me, sir, I never passed or Jota before. I gave some answers, but they were wrong. And he didn't want to ask other things that served me blue paper. Okay, another one said, God denied once I didn't expect it at all, because I had the money and the document. I don't even know the book hotel. I don't even book hotel. I read rejection mail like 20 times because I couldn't believe my eyes. You also have another two saying, well, I didn't even know how to start. I was fasting the day I went to the embassy for collection. And as I see, say, now deny or more, I buy drinks straight up. No need to dial. I know if it's die, you know, so you know how Nigerians actually go on Twitter and the response, some people's a combination of English and pigeon. And so we probably might just be a lot. That was a few years ago that you also have another tweet replying to this major tweets. He says, those of this was a few years ago, this female comedian chigol day my front, as they're no giver like this, it was a I knew the inevitable was going to happen. I make a visa officer in Abuja. God with George. Well, I can't rest again. I mean, there's a lot of expectation, you know, so let's excuse me, so let's go to rest again. Like now Chigos issue has been public square. Oh my God. So it's like that. Another one says, that's the lol laughing out loud. If you don't know already, I was denied visa. The point I knew I was going to be denied was when I answered yes to do you have a petition to migrate and not come back? Say laugh. I don't want to say that, but it's an L. M. A. O. And I could not cry physically because, you know, you didn't understand the question. So Nigerians have actually taken to social media to express their experience. I mean, should experience after being denied visa? It's a lot very comical if you ask me. Some people have, you know, taught to use that to relax and, you know, laugh about it. Well, I mean, we in this country, we know what's been happening. I mean, pastors use visa application to preach, to prophesy. You know, people take, they even have services, church services in this part of the world, where they would say bring your visa to church, bring your passport, sorry, to church and that they would conduct special prayers, you know, to help you, you know, get that visa. It's a big prayer point in church services in Evangelical churches. And then when people get visas, it's a big testimony point, you know, they will come to the church and they will say, my visa has been granted as a testimony, you know, it's a prayer point. It's a fasting point. It's a testimony point. It shows how, you know, desperate we are in this part of the world to to emigrate, you know, to travel overseas to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Dubai, the Nordic countries, you know, and etc. China, you know, Singapore, people just Malaysia, people want to travel out. I think for me, the funny aspect of all of this is good. If I've had some laughs, look at the comments. But em, what lies on top of my heart really, really, really is sadness. Sadness because when Ghana became the first African country, the country south of the Sahara to gain independence, Ghanaian independence leader, one of the leaders that is in the first president, Dr. Osajifu, Dr. Kwame Krumah said that it's time for Africa to show the world that the black man is capable of running, is capable of running his own affairs. Fast forward decades from 1957, Nigeria got in Paris in 1960, a lot of countries around Africa got independence. Subsequently, we have not been able to prove to the white man that a black man is capable of anybody, even to ourselves that we're capable of running our own affairs because we've not made our countries conducive for the citizens to reside in and to say people to even want to get visa to come, you know, if you go out to the visa points, all these companies that help the embassies to go through these things, the cues you see, you know, people are on cue. Oh, man, man, man, man. It's, it's, it's sad. May God help us, you know, and bless us with, with leaders who can make African countries the envy of all eyes. I mean, I've been a strong believer in this continent. I do not know it's going to change, but we need to have a different narrative that people will be okay to stay at home. Why do people travel, man? People travel for health reasons in medical tourism, like we call it, you know, people travel for education. People travel to emigrate just sort of leave the country for economic reasons, for work reasons, some travel for marriage, you know, find a white woman in America who wants to marry you, wants to get married to her, she agrees. You move. That's the easiest way to get a green card these days, you know, and so on and so forth. So we need to develop Africa, make Africa the envy of all eyes, you know, and what do we need, electricity, good roads, health care, good education, all right, peace, security, and basic development. And that's what Africans need and asking for so that we don't see ourselves. And sometimes when you go to these embassies, the people you see who would reject you out, some say they are children. Well, yes, they are children, fine. Swallow it, because our leaders have refused to develop our part of the world. Yeah, merci. All right. So we have to move on to the next story. And of course, for me, merci, you know me, when it comes to things like this, I will just tell you. Do you want to talk about it? No, no, I don't say don't talk about it. I can't tell you what to do. You know, I don't say, but I will just read it, and you know, I want to tell you is your life. News, you know, social media has with our bars and our wash with news that basket mouth and Nigerian comedian aka Bright of Pocha has separated from his wife, Elsie Uzo Mo Pocha, that they're getting a divorce. He put it out on his, his Instagram. I don't know if we can look at it. He says that in the statement as much as it pains me to bring my personal life to the public space. And this has been a topic of a discussion. We should people bring their personal lives to the public space. So as much as it pains me to bring my personal life to the public space, this is an unavoidable situation. After my deliberations, my wife and I have made the difficult decision to end our marriage. As we move forward separately, we will continue to work together to give our beautiful children all the care, love, guidance, support and support they need. We humbly ask that you respect our privacy as we navigate through these times. Thank you. When they say it's for their privacy, you mean that we shouldn't talk about it. I don't know why they even put that. No, no, no, so for both, whether or not, so first of all, I mean, whether or not basket mouth actually put out this, it will eventually become very public because people are, people are always, I mean, he's a public figure. So people get talk about it. That's the on the one side. But this is just basket mouth and that's very public. And we're talking about it because he's a public figure. He's in that space and that's why it feels like, oh yes, but there are several marriages that have actually crashed. A lot of people have worked out of their marriages, you know, several times and are still working out of their marriages for whatever reason it may. It doesn't sound as casual as a sound because in most cases, you know, it varies. It could just be a matter of life and death and some people would want to have their sanity. It's, it's very encompassing. But I have asked of recent and that actually also prompted me to, you know, sample opinion more like I had voices, which of course is part of my podcast production. However, I wanted to find out what exactly could be responsible for, you know, the rate of divorce because it's alarming. I'm not even saying, oh, it's because you have the celebrities, you know, having a divorce. No, that's not the case. We're talking about the celebrities because they are public figures and they are already, you know, at the front burner of all of this. But beyond celebrities, every, you seem to have the rate of divorce on the high. Sampling some of these opinions, you will be shocked about, you know, about some of the responses and some people think that this is happening because why in an everywhere things are reported, the social media, era of knowledge, communication, information, who seem to be in the know. But if I, if you follow the comment and the conversation surrounding basket mouths announcement that is, you know, separating from his wife of 12 years, the marriage of 12 years, you would see some people saying, you know, the marriage of all those some sort of comparison with, you know, those who got married way back, our parents and what's going on right now in our dispensation or this generation. And one of it is that you hear people say, well, in during the time of all people were very, very, okay, women were not financially independent. And that's the reason why you didn't have all of this divorce. There was no exposure and what have you. And some people say, oh, women were willing to go through a lot. So, you know, it felt like it was a one sided conversation. Well, however, all of these thoughts continue to go on and people continue to say, oh, people were willing to just, you know, read the title. It was just very apt. You really cannot say I know that a lot of persons will be saying you have no right to talk about marriage, especially when you're not married. You know, we have all of this ideology and conversation. But what could be responsible? There are different issues and it's really saddening because growing up as a child, what I knew was a boy, a girl, it's, you know, a happy story after ever. I don't know if Hollywood also contributed to all of this ideology because it felt like when two people come together, it's not going to be separable. It's going to be living very happily after. And, you know, the story will continue. But there are several reasons. And just because all of this is happening does not mean that, you know, we don't have beautiful marriages. The institution of marriage, a lot of people who are happily married. I don't think that this also should discourage a lot of persons who want to get married. They're beautiful marriages. People are working and some people are very happy with it. I think that, you know, we also need to understand that everything requires work, it requires commitment. The same commitment you put towards your job, your career, your business is also the same commitment. You require a relationship, not a relationship expert, but of course around people who have gone through a lot. And I can say for sure that, you know, it takes to tangle. That's the much that we can take at this point in time on top trending. We'll return definitely on Monday or things be any core with more interesting top trending conversation. At this point, let's take a break. And when we return, we'll be looking through the pages of National Dailies. We call it off the price. We stay with us.