 Welcome back, Silver Breakfast and Plus TV Africa, with Haji Attiku Abubakar emerging as the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party for the 2023 general elections. The attention of Nigerians has now turned to other political parties as they elect their candidates. The New Niger People's Party has Senator Rabi Musa Kwan-Kwaso, former governor of Counter-State, while the Labour Party has elected Dr Peter Bee as its presidential flag-bearer. The ruling of Progressive Congress will hold its presidential primary from June 6th to June 8th, who are the contenders Attiku Abubakar could face and what are his chances against them. We have joining us on the breakfast this morning to discuss is our guest, Shegma Kewandei, who is a member of the Progressive Congress. He is the richness from on those states are correct to be precise. Mr. Kewandei, thank you very much for your time. What are the chances of Attiku being a former vice president and also being a five-time presidential aspirant? What are his chances against the pack, the chasing pack and his fellow contenders for the presidential position come 2023? Mr. Kewandei, can you hear me please? Yeah. Like you already said, what are the chances of? Absolutely, I can hear you. All right, please go on. So thank you very much for having me this morning, for what I think about the emergence of the vice president, Attiku Abubakar, imagine as the flag-bearer in the opposition party, which is the PDP. For me, Attiku Abubakar has been in the forefront of politics since 1993. He has been coming up and wants to be the president of the nation since 1993. So he's a big within, you know, in the politics and because of 2014, I said, we're going to listen to him, but there's nothing to be afraid of, that's the truth. There's no reason why the Progressive Congress should be afraid of the admittance of the vice president. Yes, of course, he is the first to agree, considering what he has done in the politics, considering how he has moved, able to now. So if you imagine, as the presidential candidate of the party, it may very well that he knows how to ship the carpet. But for us, it is not just about shipping the carpet, it is bringing the national aid to the front corner and solving it. So we're ensuring very well that all the area has equity and we're sure that all the areas stay in administration, where I mean state administration, I'm talking about the middle of democracy. At the table of everybody, we all know what is happening in the economy right now. Now the question is, will Attiku Abubakar, the admittance of Attiku Abubakar, and the background of the PDP, will solve what is going on in the economy? It will not solve. If you don't solve, you agree with me that it's principle, before President of the Federation, Abubakar, said categorically speaking, that Attiku Abubakar and the amount of money Attiku has, you know, are storing in India is enough to feed over 300 million people, over 200, yes. So you're quoting someone who said that the amount of money Attiku has stolen, I think Abubakar enjoys what I don't know if that quote is true. I've seen it popping up on social media. But even if OBJ said those words and said those things, Attiku Abubakar has not been tried by a court in Nigeria or anywhere in the world and found guilty of corruption of stealing public funds. So we might be stepping on bottles here if we start saying that on TV. International TV. I'm just reiterating what this principle said. I'm reiterating what this principle said. Who best know his family? Who best know his family? If not, I'm someone with a family. Who best know a child? I'm only saying that we don't have anything to prove it. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, of course. I'm only reiterating what the principle said. So I've not said anything that's obvious. I've only said what the principle said. But however, they go from there. Where I'm actually pointing out is this is, do we need, do we need, do we need Attiku Abubakar as a solution to Nigeria at this time? I feel very worried. That's the question that you have to actually answer. But where I'm going on is this is, Attiku Abubakar is a good ticket for us. We are always, the unprogressive party has always taken him as a baby. You know, when it comes to, I've been waiting on who. It happened the last time when the president, PNB, President Mahmoud Wadi, has always, has always, has always struck him off the carpet a number of times. I've told you, you have been in politics, as in politics in 1993. And we have always shown him who is superior when it comes to, when it comes to, to live in the nation. So I'm so, it is a man, yes, I said, do you want to go to Sweden? I tell you, it is a dream we get. I said, do you want to go to Sweden? But nonetheless, there is nothing to be afraid of. Is there anyone in the All Progressives Congress who has the pedigree? And you don't need to mention names if you don't want to. But are there candidates, let me put it that way, in the All Progressives Congress, as we speak, as parents who have the pedigree to match the pedigree of Attiku Abubakar. Now, you agree with me that as, as today, numbers of credible, numbers of competent, numbers of impactful, influential and even inspirational candidates has come out to lay out their own cast on the table, you know, saying that they want to go for that. When they pick up this, this resolution form, and yesterday you are going to, and as yesterday, I'm going to be doing this in a party who has, who has done the screening, successfully done the screening. It was done and tested. So, I'm coming, there are numbers of credible competent, impactful leaders in the party who have shown interest. And I'm very, very sure that there is no one of them, there is no one of them with the ability to lead the nation. All of them are competent to lead the nation. However, just that we have some that might be at A, some might be at B, some might be at C. But I'm talking about their level of, of, of, of, of impact, yes. They are putting that defines a leader, impact, influence and inspiration. These categories of presidential aspirants have been, you know, they have shown these categories of, of, of, of leadership, you know, and why they are at the forefront of party. So, for me, I might not be able to mention it in a party categorically because we are waiting for the outcome of a primary, are excluded by, by the party leadership. So, anyone that, anyone that comes out, anyone that finally become the flag bearer of the party is, is, is big enough to luckily lead the forefront of the, of, of, of, of the democracy. All right. So, you've categorized it just like some categorizer musicians in Nigeria to A class, B class and C class. But when we talk about pedigree, article has been taking a shot at the elections, you know, five times. I don't know how many of the aspirants in the APC have ever had a shot at that seat. He has built alliances, you know, all over the country and he has had a structure and people who have been working for him in previous elections. So, when it comes to pedigree, is there anyone in the other parties, especially the all progressives Congress that has the pedigree of article book? He's had his campaigns before, all over the country. He's been part of forums, he's been part of debates and discussions about the presidency, so people know him. Is there anyone in the APC and anyone who has who has that pedigree? Like Reddy said, like Reddy said that article is a big week here when it comes to Nigerian politics and is there anyone in the party, in our own party who has the same pedigree? Not just who has the same pedigree. I won't put some of our A-list as someone who has the same pedigree, but people who has more pedigree, they have two categories of people. Is that why you said the same category or more category? We have people who have more category or more pedigree than this kind that you just mentioned. For me, I'll just give a critical analysis. I'll give a critical analysis. When you look at Nigeria for example, when Nigeria was suffering from recession when Nigeria was suffering from recession and when Nigeria actually had this job, pandemic and hope, you can see the vice president, President of Yamiyoshi Bank, you're coming out at the front, taking an economic issue very serious. This is someone who has been at the forefront of the social integration plan. You can see what is happening in the rural or urban electrification plans as well too. These are the people that they have shown their pedigree. They have shown what they can do. They have shown what they are made of. Like I said, I mentioned that at that time, I said there are three ways to measure or to measure a leader. I said impact, influence, and inspiration. These are the three things that really tells you that every of the experts, now this is every of the experts, not just a professional leadership manager, it's proven in time being that they have more pedigree than I think I've ever come. What about Lagos State, for example? Look at the GDP of Lagos. Lagos has a GDP of over $330 billion. I've been talking about 20 million people. Lagos is far, is far, far more than three or four countries together. As you've seen, for example, has a GDP of $8.4 billion, a kitty has a GDP of $2.7 billion. Tatumia Princip has a GDP of $400 million. Gambia has a GDP of $1.7 million. If you compare Tatumia Princip and Gambia, if you compare them together, they can't even measure at par with a kitty. It's a country on its own. Tell me who has more pedigree than I think I've ever come. These are people that they have shown without being. They have shown in time being, they have shown in recent times why they can be at the forefront and why they can always sweep at the limit. At the perfect, we need a leader. Who has shown in time being. We need a leader who has been at the front burner of Nigeria issues. We need a leader who has seen it all in governance. Okay, all right. Let's look at them. We'll come back to the All Progressive Congress, but let's look at the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Dr. Pitobi. He has had a relationship with Tiko Wukar. Do you think he has the guts? He has the grit to go and take on Tiko Wukar and fight for the position of the office or the seat of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Why am I asking that? It's because he was running mate to Atiku. When Atiku declared, Pitobi went and sat down there and smiled. When Atiku emerged as the flag bearer of the PDP, Pitobi put out a tweet and congratulated Atiku and called Atiku his leader and elder brother. Can Pitobi take Atiku on? Now you agree with me that it's only Pitobi that co-activated Atiku Wukar. Even Bola Hanmen, Ashwaji Bola Men, also co-activated Pitobi and all Nigerians every other statesman also co-activated him. So for me, co-activating him doesn't mean that you can't run against him. Now for Pitobi, Pitobi is a fantastic person. We can see what he has done. While he was the governor of Konambra, we can see how good he has been when it comes to infilling what every Nigerians felt. Just that, I'm sorry, he might not have been in the wrong place right now and even in time being, he has been in the wrong place. If he had been in the right place, perhaps, maybe we would have actually had a chance to actually find a way to solve some of these issues because this is it. For the white, you can put a new wine into an old white skin. It is extremely not possible. It will rub off on each other. What you need is a new wine. New wine. Okay, Shegwa Kiwande. Are you there? Yeah, absolutely. I see it. All right. It seems we had some technical issues. So you were saying you can put a new wine in an old wine skin. You were making a point. Shegwa, are you there, please? Yes. All right, we're having some technical difficulties with our guests there. Shegwa, can you hear me? Okay, we will have to try and reconnect with Shegwa Kiwande, who is a member of the Upper Progressives Congress in all those states where he's reaching us from. We're still looking at the contenders who will stand against Satiko Abu Bakar and his chances against him after he merged as the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party and Nigeria's leading opposition party following a presidential primary election. The National Stadium in Ambuja, the Mushirabiola Stadium, particularly precisely at the velodrome of that stadium. Of course, a poll was conducted some time ago, and I'm just going to open that report right now because it had some interesting information. It was a survey conducted by Next Tier. Next Tier is a multi-competency advisory firm and a data tier and data analytics digital communications firm This result or the research results survey result was released by a certain Dr. Indibusin Woko who is a partner and research leader Next Tier. It said that the dual of Vice-President Yemiya Shibajo and former Anambra State Governor Pito B who then was of the PDP LP emerged the most preferred presidential aspirants ahead of the 2023 elections. Now the survey, they said, aimed to gauge Nigerian preferences for presidential candidates to understand the challenges that they would like the next government to address promptly and also to decode how ethnic and gender biases would inform the next election. So it was judged across 467 responses that the most preferred candidate for that position of president in Nigeria were Pito B and Yemiya Shibajo. Pito B scored 46% from that survey. Yemiya Shibajo, 28%, Bola Tinibu, 7.5% and Atikua Bubakara, 3%. All right. It also said the most preferred candidates for Vice-President were Aminu Tamboal who scored 28% in that survey. Moussa Kwan-Kosso, 19%, Pito B, 16%, Bukola Saraki, 6.9%, Yesom Buikay, 6.4% and Yemiya Shibajo, 5.8%. I'm sure the candidates who emerged at the primaries of the various parties would not be looking at this poll to elect their running mates who have different dynamics that will inform who they pick or select rather, not elect select that's here, running mate. But polls are polls and surveys are surveys and you can't ignore them. However, historically in the country, we've always had a match with the results in reality when compared to the outcome of surveys of polls that have been conducted. But I'm sure if you ask next here, they will tell you that this is quite a reliable survey that they conducted. Quite interesting. I don't know if we have a guest back on the line because I'm told we have Shewa Kewandei back on the line with us. Shewa, you were saying you make it a point, rather, before the internet interrupted the conversation. Thank you very much for... Can you hear me now? Loud and clear, Shewa. Loud and clear, Shewa. I was mentioning on Pitao B and I told you, I said Pitao B and my clients as a flag bearer in Labour Party, you know, it's a fantastic one here. And I said it wasn't Pitao B, it was actually presented with an article on back-up. Likewise to people like Bola and Netulungu, and Shewa Kewandei Netulungu, and all that mean quite many women. I also graduated him too, you know. So for me, the main point is, this is for Pitao B, he's just a fantastic man. I tell you, he's a fantastic man. He has more knowledge about the economy, just that the major issue is, it's actually in the wrong place, that's the truth, in the wrong place. Paula White said you cannot put a new wine to an old wine scheme, you need to put a new wine into a new wine scheme. So for him, wherever he is right now, I wish him best of luck, I wish him good luck, but just that, if you have been in the right place, where it's kind of pressing, would be more appreciated, and where the kind of pressing would have been more put to use for us to get the best out of it, because whether you like it or not, if gold doesn't become a good address, golds are always raw, until when they pass through fire, they finally become good. When they are passing through fire, impurities have to be pushed out. We have to be as, you know, as being in the unprogressive party, and perhaps maybe the fire, maybe the fire removing those impurities in him, will have been touched on him, and will have been a refined man, like what Major really wants. So for us, in the fantastic, like I said, he did a lot of great things, while he was the governor of Anambra, of course, and after that he left. We sincerely apologise for the interruption there. I guess obviously having network issues, it happens from time to time, we'll try our best to reconnect with him, but we're still looking at the contenders and those who, I take a book I could possibly face, in the 2023 presidential election, having emerged as the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party, the attention of Nigerians has now turned to the processes in all these other parties, currently the All Progressive Congress ruling party in Nigeria, is in the process of screening its presidential aspirants, yesterday 11 of them were screened, look at that more in depth with the next guest, but who are the leading contenders? In the All Progressive Congress, you have the likes of Rotimi, Chibika and Meiji, former governor of River State and former minister of transportation, because he had to do so in order to focus on his ambition to be Nigeria's next president. How does Meiji stand against Artigo Bukar in terms of credentials, in terms of qualifications, in terms of performance and in terms of perception, how does he stand? We have former governor of Lagos State, Paul Amitinbu, who is also a leader of the All Progressive Congress, leading aspirant in that race. Chibajo is also there as well, still from the All Progressive Congress. Now, these are some of the leading names we can talk about. We have the southeast block of the All Progressive Congress, the likes of governor of Eboni State, you have the likes of Rocha Zokorcha, who is cooling his heels right now in EFCC custody. You have the likes of former governor of Abia State, Ojiro Zokalui and Ko. We have the names in the All Progressive Congress. Of course, we can't forget Rabi Musa Kwankwa, of the NNPP who is there, and as we have mentioned, Dr. Peter B. of Labour Party. Time will tell how they will perform against Artigo Bukar on the day of the election. Counting down to the end of the primaries, the All Progressive Congress will hold its primaries so you're going to see other parties also have their primaries, and then we'll get into the campaigning period. And this will be a longer campaigning period or campaigning season than we had in the last election. Therefore, I'm sure we'll have enough time to assess the offer, the manifestos, and the prospect of the various candidates. That's the size of our first major conversation for today. We'll take a break. And when we come back, we look at the All Progressive Congress of its presidential aspirants. Stay with us.