 Welcome once again to the breakfast here on Plus TV Africa. A very interesting morning. Now let's see what the papers have for us. We're starting with the Nigerian Tribune this morning and of course we'll be introducing our guest right after this Tribune Tribune in just a few minutes, or a few seconds rather, yeah. It says there, Rivers got 4.7 billion Naira out of 15 billion Naira of that kind of received same 2.8 billion Naira generated. Wicke reviews, laments injustice. Wicke's Vat Batu puts Nigeria's federalism on trial. Experts and lawyers speak. It also says states of Vat management will cause confusion and that's from the FIRS. Why Vat law will be beneficial to Lagos, says the speaker, Abbasah. Still on the Nigerian Tribune. Establishment of farmer states, Greek gifts of fatal Trojan horses says, Thieves snatch Igboho's AIDS case files. DSS tells court. Slams terrorism charges against them. Farmer governors may produce next PDP national chairman. Also on the Tribune, Kogi state, EFCC now tool of oppression and opposition parties or rather now tool of oppression opposition parties tell Buhari. Why ex-governor Daria's 93-year-old father was killed after collecting 10 million Naira ransom. That's by the abductors. For our government intercepts food and fuel supply to bandits, arrest 100 suspects. Those are the big stories on the Nigerian Tribune this morning. Let's take a look at the Ponshini's paper, VAT collection row. Wicke talks 12th on the Ponshini's paper. Lagos defends Beale as FIRS rights national assembly. Reavers orders firms to begin payment. FIRS letter won't stop us, says Lagos. Reavers generated 15 billion Naira, got 4.7 billion Naira. Kano made 2.8 billion Naira, got same, that's according to Wicke. Nigeria records 1.87 trillion Naira trade deficit, amid rising crude export. NMA, NARD blame Ingigay for prolonged strike. NDLEA sees a 6 billion Naira drug linked to Middle East criminal gangs. Afenifari says, Buhari's 108 farm states heard as settlements in disguise. 5G networks incite as federal government approves policy. Rwani says GDP rising, inflation falling, yet poverty worsening. And still on the front page of the Ponshini's paper, we can see a picture there of people clad in black. And this captioned, Reavers pensioners lament colleagues death, protest non-payment of 9 year gratuities. Still on the Ponshini's paper, Iboho's aid sue DSS for defamation, demand a 100 million Naira. Gunmen abducts three of Bassenger's workers in Ogun state, Kogi, 20 billion Naira. Parties accuse EFCC of political agenda. Passenger strangle Lagos doctor turned Uber driver, still car. Families throng Lagos cemetery as fallen tree breaks graves. And lastly on the Ponshini's paper, Buhari's visit, police warn troublemakers. Masop seeks canoes release. All right, now let's see what we can find on the daily independent newspapers. Federal government to boost economy, open opportunities with 5G, says security agencies requested shutdown of telecoms in Zamfara. And stakeholders say Nigeria will derive socio-economic benefits from 5G. Mietyala making decisions for Nigeria, says the Benoist state government. Declare state of emergency on health and education, PFN tells federal government. And with comments, implementation of van Lijade attacks in rivers, says Governor Wiki. And of course, why VAT law will be beneficial to Lagos, Abasai is saying. Federal government files terrorism charges against two of Iboho's aides, and then PC consolidates on gains, publishes 2020 audited financial statements. And we're not against Buhari's visits to Imo, says Oraneze. Finally, let's look at the Guardian newspaper. The story about VAT is still a big deal here. The Guardian reads, manufacturers deplore stalemate. As FIRS, rivers insist on VAT collection. FIRS says we have backing of VAT Act. Rivers meets business community begins implementation. Bikering as Lagos proposes 6% VAT, 75% for state councils, 25%. Manufacturers worry about impasse, despite 44.9 billion Naira remittance. What's in Ibo will tell Buhari in Obiri today by Oraneze, Massab Ibo leaders. Bokoracha says, no big deal. Buhari visited Imo three times under my watch. Horira reacts as government reopens banks after shut down over one day's sit at home. NNPC consolidates gains, publishes audited financials, workers' lawyers fought NGF on Paris Club refunds, or also slams EFCC over face off with Kogi governor. Akira Dulu vows to deal with open greys and offenders, and lastly, October Conversion sacrosanct, pay-to-be governors insist. Let's now say good morning to our guests, Mr. Eaitouk, a public affairs analyst. Good morning, Mr. Eaitouk. Good morning, ever happy to be on plus TV Africa. Thanks for joining us. Thank you. All right. Which other stories would you start with? The VAT story is predominant in virtually all the papers, and it's very important. And we need to look at the VAT story beyond the surface. What is VAT? How do you get about it? What's the role of the government? And at the end of the day, what do you gain by your present method? VAT to be best of my knowledge is consumption tax. And for you to be able to get a certain level of collection, you need to bring your state to those areas, hospitality and stuff that will encourage a lot of people to consume this product and you get the VAT from it. It's different from oil that you say is in the ground. It's something that the government have to do. Now, when you get that money, you take it into the pool and give it to everybody. It doesn't make sense. It just doesn't make sense. It just doesn't make sense. So, as a result, what is death as an incentive for a man who doesn't encourage such things to be able to go on with them? For instance, a very typical example is the states that are against alcohol. This is an argument that has been made over and over and over and people don't seem to listen to it. I think that consumption of alcohol is bad. No problem. I'm down with it. Now, you cannot... It's like let me use a very crude word and if this will drive it home. It's like a parent who tells the daughter, don't go sleeping around with men. He's not right. He's not okay. He's morally wrong. You're a church girl. You shouldn't do that. And yet in the evening, you call and say that month that yesterday you went out, where is the money you got? You send conflicting signals to the person and the question is, is it really bad for me to go out or you want to satisfy your religious propensity against me while at the same time enjoying the benefit of what you speak against? It's something we really need to look at with respect to morality. And secondly, the more serious implication is why would I sit down and collect the money that is being cultivated by another governor? This is not like oil. Another governor knows he needs internally generated revenue. He cuts it in industries. They buy to eat, which is not illegal. As a result, he gets some resources. Now, you take those resources and give to another man who is just waiting on the wings to collect it. It doesn't add up. It's injustice. Why would rivers generate 15 billion and get less than one third, which should be at least five. They get four points something. What is incentive for the other man in state X that generates next to nothing and yet collects from state B that generates this? This is not federalism. On the Nigerian Tribune, they describe this as putting Nigerian federalism on trial. I want to understand that the reason why they say so is because there's been lots of clamour for devolution of powers and federalism where each state controls their own resources, IGR and the rest. We're saying now that in this case of VAT collection by state, it means that state to be able to collect IGR and that it basically seems to be paving away for more states to be independent regarding how they generate and manage their resources. So would you indeed say from that perspective that this row over VAT collection is putting federalism on trial in the country? It definitely is because we need to ask ourselves what sort of system we run. There's so much conflicting signals all over this country. Are we running federalism or unitary government? We need to be very clear on what we want. If we want unitary government, let's say that that's what we want. If we want federalism, everybody knows what federalism is. We are a federating unit that are relatively autonomous, but then setting infrastructure are generic, are general, and they go through everybody. So as a result, they have to bring certain things into the pool like the military so that that is what federalism is. Federalism is not I generate money I share with you, my brother. It doesn't make sense. Federalism is each person developing at their own pace and it brings about competition. If you know that you cannot be... Let me tell you, see everybody is running around now to I listened to your conversation which was very instructive and I really followed everything that you were saying. You want to be governor. How many people have sat down to interrogate why each person wants to be a governor? Why do you want to be a governor? What is your plan on generating revenue? What is your core objectives and who have you been? You know all this, I'm sorry I will not so much align with you in that discussion because you see when we go around doing what we think we will impress the people we betray the essence of leadership leadership is what we know will improve the people that's why you are called a leader that's why you are brought in you don't do what I once done in that context your son wants sweets you know that he wants sweets give me sweets, give me sweets but as an elder you know that he will have dental caries so you say boy you cannot have sweets all the time you want sweets but I can't give you sweets because your future is at stake I know better a leader is a man who has the capacity to lead that means you have a vision you have a direction you have what you want to where you want to take your people from one place to the other going around and wanting to say grassroots politics will buy the minds of the people but you betray your calling as a leader you are not a leader that's why Miss Ayane I talk my point once again is has it worked has it continued to work for the average Nigerian politician you miss my point it has worked in giving them the office exactly and that's the point that I was that's the point that I was simply making I wasn't saying that that is the right thing to do as a media person you must never advocate what betrays the essence never that's my thinking I may be wrong yeah once again my point is it is not necessarily the right thing to do but the Nigerian politician knows that it works and that's why they continue to do it so until we get to a stage where we can elevate the type of campaigns that we run until we get to a place where our campaigns are better and you can actually sell yourself as a leader like you've said until we get there that's what they're going to continue to do what I want to appeal to you what I want to appeal to you a personal appeal is please don't encourage those who do that by bringing their narrative if anything say that is wrong that will not progress us that's what you do I'm happy for you but that is wrong that people need to come to a point of saying that is wrong absolutely but once again once again it has continued to work and that's why they keep doing it that's simply the point that I'm making I'm not saying it is right or that's the way that it should be or that's the way politics should be done but it has worked for them and that's why they continue to do it and another thing is and it doesn't but another thing Mr. Aetok it doesn't also stop him from also carrying out his politics or his campaign the right way there is the grassroot way and then there is the way that you also want it you don't have contested governorship twice yeah I'm aware anyway let's move on to something else again let's talk about the apologies let's talk about the DSS and the case file of Igboho's associates that apparently got stolen in one chance in Abuja yes the Tribune coins are this way he said thieves snatched Igboho's AIDS case file that's what the DSS is telling the court okay thieves a man who snatches could be a thief but a man who steals might not snatch so those two words make me wonder what happened because if they say thieves stole you could have been that while they were in the office okay okay let me clarify that for you Mr. Aetok the DSS council his name is Mr. Awol he went on to say that one of the colleagues of the council of the DSS as well went on to convey this case file that was containing the human rights application by 12 of Igboho's AIDS and that while he was conveying that the vehicle was attacked by one chance criminals who stole the case file or because we've seen various sides of the story or that this DSS operative entered a one chance vehicle and then these criminals went ahead to steal the case file when you have an important case how you convey your documents tells the premium you pay on it so I really don't think that it's something I it's of national import to the extent that you ask yourself how do DSS operate on such a sensitive matter where everybody know it was a national it was not like taking to court on criminal charges or things like a fraudulent things they were charged on terrorism in fact sorry they were charged on terrorism in fact that's where I'm saying a case that important this narrative you are giving me just shows something the nation would rather not hear they probably should have just said that the case file is missing or something because if you interrogate the process it means that a case as important as terrorism is not treated with the level of sensitivity level of care that it deserves that's why you can enter one chance it means the person was conveying it by private means or things like that I really don't understand for me it just doesn't add up okay so let's move on now to another story on the daily independent and it's about this particular one where is saying that I beg your pardon the binary state governor is saying that is making decisions for Nigerians and this is really talking about cattle breeding cattle grazing so would you say that according to the narrative that we've seen from the president is seeming like a binary states versus FG or it is or it should be the federal government versus the issue which is the cattle grazing and all the conflicts that has spurned from that for a case as sensitive as this this is probably one of the most sensitive cases as a matter of fact terrorism that we are this what the they had spent issues that we are talking about if you listen to mate Allah not to mate Allah some some some leaders from the north they say that the cattle of these breeders were being rustled and sold to other people now this cattle rearers having no more cattle to sell find it easy to be constricted into this act of you know banditry and the rest so the foundation seems to be that some people came from somewhere and started rustling the cattle of these people who were just ordinary cattle rearers and on account of them losing their means of livelihood and to survive they were brought into something that they even found to be a lot more lucrative what am I trying to bring out for this matter that has turned out to be one of the worst national nightmares and when you look at a chapter I could never quote enough chapter 2 section 14 subsection 2b that says that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary source of government now we are about the third one of the top three most terrorized nations in the world and then the federal government is allowing the narrative for this conversation to be driven by me teala it just doesn't add up can you link that to a statement by fenneferi it's on the punch newspaper that the president's 108 farm states is heard as settlements in disguise the president is just fixated on this issue of land for headers land for headers land for headers I believe that Nigerian heirs have the right to live I believe that Nigerian heirs have the right to good life and to ply their trade in the best possible way I believe that Nigerian heirs I'm very very careful to underline that to that extent what is so difficult look this 30% you know PIA frontier basin development exploration I think that it is to be a poll not less than 80 to 90% of Nigerians will say stay hold on Nigerian heirs take this money for the next 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years and pump 90, 900% into developing San Bisa Forest an awesome amount of land put all the infrastructure necessary and let the heirs have a place that can ply their trade and benefits their children and also be able to give their education stable environment and ply their trade I believe that nothing less than 80 to 90% of Nigerians will support that but instead of that we are deploying this money into things I don't understand number one number two we are wasting a major resource that we have by way of land in San Bisa Forest number three we are having all man of clashes and misunderstandings with Nigerians on account of land these things are no rocket science why don't you just carry one stone and kill all the birds take this money develop San Bisa Forest first class ranches and state of the art infrastructure and let these people ply their trade have their cattle and make money and have children as a result Nigeria wins the cattle rares win and the security what's so difficult in doing that please tell me okay let's close up with talking about the controversy concerning the president's visit to emo state it's on the daily independent bottom right and it says or rather we are not against emo and that is from to quickly respond to that because there apparently was another sit at home order by the IPOB on Thursday and of course saying that the president was not welcome number one is that IPOB and every Nigerian must understand that the president is a president of the federal republic of Nigeria and to that extent he has the right to go to any and every part of this state even local government he has that right Nigerians must understand that IPOB too number two the president must understand that he is a president of the federal republic of Nigeria and that the IPOB are his children there he has every right I believe that he should be tactful enough not to go there to dare them but he should be going there to say look you are my children I feel you and this is what I'm thinking you should go there to be to such that by the time he leaves he would have taken the wind of their sale addressing the issues that even reasonable people will say IPOB I don't like how you are doing this but trust me your reason for this is Jemaine I believe that if Mr. President has very strategic advisors, good advisors he's going there will do him more good than harm but if he just goes there to dare the people it's like people who already have their backs against the wall and he goes there to give a body language to him having no no interest in them I think it will end up doing more harm but the president should be wise enough smart enough to take the wind of their sale and it's very doable very easy okay we'll see how today turns out I'm sure that there would be feedback from the south east and from Imo State to see how people actually came out on a Thursday thank you very much as the curling eye talk for your time this morning thanks for having me thank you alright stay with us we're going to take a show break when we come back our next conversation is going to be on urban development and physical planning here in Lagos State and we'll be joined by you know an in-studio guest so stay with us don't go anywhere