 Welcome back. It's still the breakfast on plus TV Africa as we discuss politics and the issue of power shift Senate and human rights activist Shea Hussami says if these are an obligation for the ruling party that these are all progressives Congress the return presidency to the southern part of Nigeria in 2023 now the former federal lawmaker also disclosed that the opposition people's Democratic Party may not strictly concede a zone in the presidency as it Will be more concerned about taking power from the APC now Sonny made these statements in an interview are responding to the lingering feud over the rotation of power between the Norths and The South according to the rights activists the controversial issues of southern states banning open grazing agitating to collect value are the tax V 80 Rather than the Nigerian government and separatist agitation in the south may be the major factors Why northern governors want to disrespect the gentleman's agreement of returning power to the south We're not being joined by Kaduna state governorship aspirants senator Shea Hussami. Thanks for joining us a senator All right. It is indeed a pleasure. Let's talk about this controversial issue of shifting power from the north and the south And you seem to have some consent and you made some You know disclosure you talked about the open grazing and the VAT. How have those actually been issues regarding this? power sharing Formula and shifts to the south It should now move to the southern part of the country for eight years or the other part of the country for eight years but this is not a written law But it is an idea that has tamed out of the need to address some issues that have led us to Storms and turbulence in our history There is no doubt about it. Nigeria is a multi ethnic a multi religious state and north south has been an issue For generations And it is only fair if politicians take the interests of the country at heart other than their own personal interests But from what is going on? The ruling party has earlier made an uninformed Unannounced decision of sitting power to the south But from indications of what is going on that idea seems to be fading on the ground that they are afraid of losing power if the opposition Nominates a northern candidate and did nominate a southern candidate and knowing the numerical strength of the two Regions it is impossible for them To win the 2023 presidency So I think There are a lot of issues The most crucial and important voter in Nigeria in terms of the Americans and is the northern poor And the northern poor don't vote To address his umplight. He address he votes on sentiment And also he votes in the direction of those who control him and Those who control him are usually the religious authority the traditional authorities and the political class Who have maintained his position as he is So the ruling party is afraid that if they seek power to the south and the opposition Now nominate a northern candidate There will be so much sentiment being whipped up in the north against the southern candidate and They will hardly win that election so now the idea of also opening Detroit open for northern candidate to pick forms has now come to find but it is from from the realistic point of view It's only possible for power to move to the south If all the political parties will nominate their candidates from the south Because from my knowledge of what happens here in northern part of Nigeria The the mass mobilization a mass Conscientization of people to vote It's not as a It is so massive and huge You can't compare it to what happened in southern part of Nigeria So I think what we what we have to understand is especially the ruling party It does not matter Whether your candidate will win or not win, but what happened is that before you talk about The presidency of Nigeria you must talk about Nigeria first if this country crashes Who is going to where you going to rule? They are separate and it is separatist agitation in the south eastern part of Nigeria There are crises in all parts of the country And you can't just ignore it for example Nigeria is adopting a quota system in admission in employment in so many things taking cognizance of the fact that The south is more educationally Advantage than the north So this arrangement gives the north the opportunity to also Enjoy presence in such agencies without having requisite qualification. So if the south Will have agreed to such idea of a quota system Then it is also the same thing with power. There is no doubt about it in numerical strength the population of the north It's so huge That if you throw it up continuously another will continue to be president of Nigeria. That's the fact of the matter but if we Look at Nigeria The survival of this country the future of this country the unity of this country One part of the country cannot continue to dominate the political space forever And if we will go back through our history You will see that we have passed through a period of civil war and We found ourselves Through a period of military coup and to where we are today so one section of the country should not dominate the political space if we want unity and peace but the opposition party wants power by all means They may not be obliged to respect the principle of zoning because all they want is whatever They will use whatever improvement they used to win election. They will do it but to me What I think the ruling party is trying to do is that if the opposition party Nominates a northern candidate. They will also nominate a northern candidate. If the opposition party nominates Southern candidate So it means that instead of the reverse instead of the opposition looking Tell us what the ruling party will do and the opposite now is really party trying to Reset the stuff according to what the opposition will do. So it's a kind of a Can cut a mouse game. It's a monkey game where everyone is watching everyone All right, but let's also talk about I mean just like you have Established here this morning. You've talked about the possibility of power returning to the south in your tweet as well You talked about power will shift to the south only if the candidate of two main political parties are picked from the south Senator show Sani. What part of the south are we talking about? We have the southwest and the south is To be candid with you Anybody who is contesting the 2023 election As long as he's not from the southeastern part of Nigeria He's turned in open breach of the principle of rotation of power So when another is caught it's not only when another is contested that is against only but even if you are from The two zones south south and south way you are also about letting the because if we are talking about rotation of power, the only major region that has not Being given the opportunity to lead Nigeria is the south eastern part of Nigeria for 22 years in 1999 in Kaduna O'bonna Anu Emerged as the presidential candidate of the APP He was to square off with O'bonna Anu Only for a certain alliance that came with alliance for democracy With sacrifice of O'bonna Anu and then And then Olufa like a mother since then Since 1999 there has never been any Ibo presidential candidate So how can you? now Say a certain people Should not be given opportunity and then you will also Raise issues when they are separated the separation Adjudication is a direct product of marginalization and injustice That's perpetrated against the people of southeastern part of Nigeria as far as I'm concerned the very day a south easterner become President of Nigeria that is the end the formal or All the informal end of the civil war and its own Adjudication force Biafra but to me and for now I Think whatever configuration all the two political parties are going to make at least they shouldn't forget the south eastern part of Nigeria Because we can't you are only fueling Adjudication each time separate education each time you marginalize a people so to me Power should rotate but even those who want power to return to the southern part of Nigeria The hypocrisy is that if you ask them which part Do you want in south they will keep quiet when it comes to the issue of southeastern part of Nigeria? So as far as I I know That the future of this country the unity of this country It's not premise or national The national anthem or national place all the question of the country But each can only be possible if there's observance of justice equity and fairness for all Nigeria Senator show sunny. Do you see power with all that the political parts? I mean you've mentioned that it feels like it's a monkey game because what dominant parties are not very Have not been very Explicit whether or not they are going to go for the consensus which would automatically zone to a specific region But by omens. Do you see power shifting to the southeastern region of Nigeria? Those who have push themselves forward From the southeast You will find out that they are not doing that from the position of power if you are a Serving governor contesting election You are most likely to have the influence of Other governors and other support because people gravitate towards power and But they are good candidates from the southeast People like Ken Nnamani Peter will be Who have push themselves I am I am also good materials But the point is that how do you win the primaries? That's a fuck with the matter If you look at the candidates from the PDP I am and Peter will be These are all former government is a former governor and former President of the Senate So what control do they have of delegates outside of their states? That's one issue If you look at Ken Nnamani He is an acceptable and a credible personality The delegates from any good states Can vote for him but outside of any group where Those is trade life so and if you look at the history of Party primaries It's about money Monies are being shared To delegate For a certain candidate how much how much do those people have So I think if Nigeria wants to Remain United Then it should ensure That those part of the country that have been marginalized politically Brought a boy. So the South is can produce a president But the way the calculation is now is going to be a But it's not about it. You know that the option before us that do we want a United and one that All the way simply want to continue to to use the power of mind and Dominate order, but I think that's the solution we need to answer All right, so you tell Sonny Let's to stay on the South is some presidency in as much as you have talked about them Those who have pushed themselves forward you mentioned Ken Nnamani Peter B and them Formals I'm saying present and in Paris and him, but there's always been this talk about them The South is them not speaking with one voice when it comes to what they want and them champion in their position Do you agree with that position? Yes, that's by pushing their agenda forward that's by speaking with one voice in terms of pushing a particular candidate for One candidate in PDP and one candidate in APG the South isn't part of Nigeria is an option for a United Nigeria And whatever is apparent to the president of Nigeria from the South is Beliefs in one that yes, if he is disappointed or discreet almost alive You are only giving credence to those who believe that We are not wanted in Nigeria So as far as I am concerned I Believe the South is can be strategic in terms of rally round One of their own And then demanding that this is our own this is our own position and We we want your support and and backing so there's nothing wrong with that But the idea of saying they are not speaking about which which zone is picking one way in the southwestern part of Nigeria How many countries have a match? Geneva is there. Oh, see Banjo is there Buckethead is speaking from fire me is speaking from fire. She is there in the north now Look at the candidates who don't have a match So there's no there's no Reason that is speaking with one voice believe that if you want to Give a talk a bad name in order to hang it But but let's also I mean look at it generally the Niger that were faced with I mean with our current reality security looking at the economy and A level of borrowing does it really matter where the president comes from from 2023? Should we be concerned about whether the president comes from the north south east or west or should we be concerned about a President that can lead us and you know take us to where we ought to be for instance Looking at the issues that were faced with I'm asking that 2023 should we be focused about where the president comes from the president In 2023 looking at the elections whether power should be shifted to the north the south or the east or should we be concerned about Who can solve the problems of our country? Well, it is it can be a people in all parts of the country there are people who can solve the problem and in all parts of the country There are people who have the problems of Nigeria And it is not when it is time to rotate power that you bring the idea of Solving problems of the country So if you want to if you want people who will solve the problem of the country Why don't you pick them from other parts of the country or not on your own? So it doesn't make any sense to People should like to know that we come from a Turbulent and coming history The need for us to ensure all parts of the country Equitably the present and I also give it your permission to leave Nigeria It is necessary is until they go on that day I let the go away supposed to be the next president of Nigeria Who was the vice president? But in that time It's only the military they have of us I go and you to who it Where it was to be said to the ebos? Who who are but the one I believe it in but since 1999 Which kind of country? You you don't want another people to produce it but the president you want to be there forever I am not from the south. I'm not from the north central I am from the core house of land is there and I'm house of land but my position is That I want that to that to remain United But it is only a wishful thinking If you think that it is only one part now now tendancy is here They are acting you All right All right, send it all sonny Let's do talk about them separatist agitation and all the agitations and across some of the country, you know I listened to you and one of the things you said was that if there is a southeast presidency come 2023 it will bring about the way you let me just quote you verbatim it will bring about an informal end You know of the civil war that in itself is just one thing the southeast and I pop an agitation would actually be dust But don't you think it might actually spur up or dust sort of agitations from other some zones of the country? Sends a sonny are you there? Oh, I think we have lost them send it to a sonny It will try and reconnect with him messy. That's a clean a very chatty discussion. He has raised a whole lot of you know pertinent and points concerning the 2022 presidency, you know, but like Is he care focused to talk about him the third will and them it has been the focus of them the PDP and the APC I will also want to ask him, you know, what all that Think can your position do, you know to make sure that and this agenda of Rotational Presidency or Southern Presidency actually, you know comes to play But like he's rarely mentioned he's talked about I mean from that but what we had him He talked about the issue of respecting the principle and that's what the gentleman's agreement You know, that's what the argument has always been so he comes to a point where he's supposed to go to a certain region And all of a sudden we're very concerned about Competence and capacity to perform and so it shouldn't be based on where you're from but this has been an agreement This has been an observation that's been going on a tradition has been going on for a long time and to say that the ruling Party at the time was very responsible for you know, this principle shortly after You know transition to a democratic dispensation it goes for a lot of worry It's an integrity issue and should people trust you because at the end of the day You have that government had failed in different points and different strata You have government failing and so government will say we're going to do XYZ But do that lead to you know their expectation at the end of the day it goes for a lot of you know worry and Concern but another question would be like he has rightly mentioned not very clear on that but We're saying that partial shift to the south what part of the south because that's also going to be a problem So if you say let's Ensure that the power returns to the south. You know that we have the southwest and we have the south Right. We have them send it to sunny back Yeah, send it to before we lost yours trying to get more angles from what you had said earlier on you said If at their reason a power shift to the southeast come 2023 it will bring about an informal end to the civil war Don't you think other agitations just might spring up over time? Senator sanny, did you hear that? All right, let me just repeat the question. I'm sure we're having some other interference You talked about the southeast presidency bringing an informal end to the civil war I was asking that in itself is a position Don't you think other agitation just might spring up over time? Never a day goes Since when we were younger up to this time when we become fathers and grandfathers every day The fallout of that war is seen it's hard Oh, it's right and There's no doubt about it the civil war was about South east and the rest of Nigeria. So now there is no better way to extinguish the fire of separatism Than to prove to those From the south is who believe in one Nigeria that they have made the right choice And there is no better way to extinguish the separatist agitation In the south system part of Nigeria than giving the south is the opportunity to produce the leadership of the country Because I know that before genotran ascension to the presidency The agitation in the south south has originally not a delta was louder But since genotran became president One of their own was in charge And it was an opportunity for him to solve all the problems known and unknown of nadir delta So whether he has done it all he has not They lost the moral courage To challenge any president about their flight because their own was also there The same thing goes with the south east I believe that if we If we just what what is 4 or 8 years 4 and 8 years is not in the love of any But it just is a put your fairness that will come out of it will last for centuries and generations So It is my own belief That doing justice is not that I'm Saying that I do not have A candidate from the north that I support But what I'm saying in fact is that The two main parties where most likely The president will emerge She'll look at Nigeria And do what is right To preserve the senior And you can't preserve this country Without making political Reconfiguration A research That will do justice to our Unity our survivor So all what I said is that If zoning or rotation of power Is necessary But when you are rotating power also look at the areas That have not produced The southwest are produced a president and a vice president in northwest Have produced president twice And even a vice president so Certainly there you say not if Produced only a vice president, but no president But now when you look at these south And the south side has done you have produced a president, but look at the south It's a peculiar case And there are people Who have all their life If the north Said they do not want Or any part of the country they say they don't want people who support The biafra decision and there are people who support united nigeria Canada money is one of them Pita will be is one of them Obano is one of them I am is one of them. They have their position in Nigeria and by their views And they are they are Their ideas have always been national So why would you disbelieve In agitators and also disbelief and those who believe in unity It doesn't make sense in that your problem is not The position is the ethnicity Where what where a person comes from And not whatever he stands for Because the ones you are an ibo you simply Take on a separatist identity And that is not what it's supposed to be I believe you're lying people that are opposed to A separatist organization All right Senator shea was saying we're really out of time And I've been trying to get your attention, but just quickly You have mentioned two political parties the standard chance of dominating in 2023 And we have 18 registered political parties according to iNEC. Why are we very focused on just two political parties? That that has a tendency of taking I mean producing the president for 2023 Well, I think it will simply be centered on money There are people with more money in the two parties than they are in the third party There are the next parties who live in abgar, but abgar is only Present in another party And is nowhere in In most part of the country they have structure, but they don't have the The the the the following But so I can say that The dominant political forces in Nigeria Who command follow-up and who have the resources Are in these two political parties and that's what I believe anything All right. Thank you so much for being part of the conversation this morning. Would you appreciate your time? Thank you All right, we have been speaking with the former senator of the federal republic of migra is senator showzani is also the Governorship aspirant for kudino state All right, I will take a quick break and when we return Nigerians Are likely to start paying higher targets for sms and causes In the operators are thinking of increasing the targets over, you know operational costs in the moment stay with us