 Welcome back to the run-up on Plus TV Africa. Well, following fears of violence and allegations of plots to rig the polls, the police have declared their readiness to ensure hitch-free and credible exercises. And they have also deployed their men to all parts of the country. And this came as top politicians in Lagos urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit results of tomorrow's elections electronically to its results viewing portal in real time from the polling units, unlike what happened during the February 25th polls. And just before we went on that break, I've been discussing with Mr. Aleksa Wilcox, he's an accountant and also a public affairs analyst. Now, the security issue is topmost on everyone's mind because we saw what happened in the last election, which you did say is hitch-free, but some of us saw what happened. The ballot snatching, the attacks on people. In one case, there was this woman whose face was stabbed and she had to go cover up and still continue to vote. Now, what would you say to the police as we prepare for the Saturday election tomorrow? Okay. Violent has always been part of our electionary processes, which is quite regrettable and unfortunate. I would talk that by this time, we should have gone beyond that. But again, emotions are always running high. People have expectations and they have interests that they want to protect. And so people tend to carry out acts, which they are not even acts to do. I also saw, you know, you talked about the woman that was stabbing the eye. I also saw a man that was manhandled in one place in Indonesia because he was voting for a particular party. It was so manhandled and chased out of the place. I also saw that somebody was killed just after the election. So the police, despite the assurances, it can be everywhere. What is the number of police we have in Nigeria? About 400,000. And if you deploy from 100,000 policemen, how many police units do we have? 176,000 police units. How many police will man all the police units? I remember where I voted, near my house where I voted, one policeman was about three police units. One policeman to three polling units. That's in Shimoli. You said you voted around Shimoli. Yes, I'm in Shimoli. I voted about three polling units within a circumference area. Just one. And you can't force that because, like I said, we have 17,000, we have 100,000 policemen. A lot of them will be on other duties, office duties, those who are guarding the courthouse, those who are guarding the prison, you know. So what would be a valuable measure would be 100,000, not available for election duties. But this is quite unfortunate, isn't it? Because we had been preparing for this election. I remember I interviewed the public relations officer of the police, Lagos Command, CSB, SP, Benjamin Hundei. And I did raise these questions, these concerns. And I was assured that they were going to get more hands. They were going to synergize with all necessary agencies that they can synergize. But matter of fact, I had called them this morning hoping that I can get him on so that we can also discuss this. But I couldn't connect with them. You see, you can't put a boot on the ground in every area. You have to be strategic. They will know the flash areas, okay? Where they will cause the resource. Today in Nigeria, today in Lagos, we are talking about election violators. Where does it take place? You talk about Oshio Di Solo. You talk about Amu Adolfi. These are flash points where election violators are maybe part of the agiromi These are flash points of more electoral conflicts. You can also talk about part of Sulevi. Okay? If you come to Yaba Shemolu area, we are peaceful people. Okay? We love ourselves. So we don't come at each other's throats. So that's where we can keep one policeman to demand about three for a police unit. And we all behave ourselves. But when you go to those flash points, of course, they have to, they know. They must have mapped out their own strategy. So it's not as if it's not that. But of course, the police cannot be there in all the locations all the time. Before you call police, before there will be a ballot bus matching in one unit and the police are coming. What's happening in the other unit? So, but you see, it behooves on politicians across board. Okay? And it behooves on we, the citizens across board. Despite who you support, there will be one winner. Unfortunately, the thought force in Lagos, in the national election, brought in a lot of pressure to Lagos. And that might continue towards the government election. There has been thought force, people are talking about thought force. There has been thought force in Nigerian politics. It's not, it was only a two-house race in 2015 and 2019. In 2007, 2011, 2015, 2011, there are thought forces. The CPC were the formidable force. I mean, so there would have been the thought force. But the wind of the CPC probably didn't blow as much as the LPA. It blew in the north, it didn't blow in the south. No, it didn't blow in the south. It blew in the north. Yeah, the LPA wind is kind of blew across the country from what we saw. The Epy wind. Which is why it's so loud this time. The Epy wind blew in three major geopolitical areas. That's why the Epy wind blew in three major geopolitical areas. In the south, south, in the southeast, the north central. It blew in Lagos, in the south west. Let's look at the flash points. Let's look at other flash points in Lagos. Where would you say, some of the other flash points, where the police should pay attention? Maybe presently, maybe presently in Teosa. Maybe presently in Teosa, because of what happened in the last election. But the major flash points that has always been a major area of contention remains Osho de Solo. Part of Suleire, Amua Duffin. Okota. Okota is Osho de Solo. I'm talking about local government. Yeah, OK, OK. So Okota is Osho de Solo. So that is where, these are the flash points. Then if you look at Jeremy. So if you take, if you look at Jeremy, you take the entire local government now. If you look at Jeremy, you take the entire Amua Duffin. You take the entire Osho de Solo. You take the upper part of Suleire. That is the area that Suleire took constituency. Then you talk about, you talk about Teosa. These are major flash points that constitute most of the, where you find some of the violence that takes place. And of course, it's understood because of the forces in contention in those areas. If you go to a place that you could do like Behr, Badagri, My Beloved Shumolu, we are peaceful people. And as you said, you love yourselves. Even Mushi that used to be a hotbed in terms of election, it's, I mean, they are matured, you know. They are matured and you see them conduct themselves in such a manner that it's kind of longer here, breach of peace in Mushi. Before we move to the other parts of the country, to take a look at the political gladiators in some places like River State, Kaduna, Delta, and the others, there is also the issue of the Oro Festival, which has created lots of discuss in Legos Oro Festival. What's your take on all that's playing out over that? I just begin to see every part of Legos wanting to do Oro. I don't understand. I don't understand. Well, I'm a Legos chef of my association. I've lived in Legos all my life and paid my tax and everything in Legos. So I'm a Legosian. But I'm not an indigenous. That's another thing we'll talk about. Let's finish with Oro Festival. So I don't know the concept of, I know that once in a while there's Oro Festival. Oro Festival. It's not only in Legos. It happens in most of the South West. So it's a Yoruba thing. Yes, it's a Yoruba thing. I lived in the Badon. I lived in Legos. So it's a Yoruba thing. When did they usually do it in Legos? Before the year 2023. I have been hearing of it. It happens mainly in Badagri area. No, Iporoju area. And I used to hear it in part of Etiosa anyway. Maybe those other parts, like the legushi side of Etiosa. So it's an annual thing. Yes, I think Oro is an annual thing because it happens once in a while. But this one, it's come to me like everywhere now. So I do not know the tradition of Legos. I do not know. I don't know. I'm not part of the kingship and the traditional institutions in Legos. So you wouldn't be in the position to tell us whether it's usually done in February or March or whatever. No, I don't know. But I know that. It's not just an annual. I think it's an nutritional thing. It happens. I think in the Kurodo, it happens more frequently. It happens often in the Kurodo most of the time. So I'm shocked that it's happening everywhere. Even in Gobi-sabe near my house. I don't... I had the Gobi-sabe. I was in the Gobi-sabe. That's where I pass every day. When I'm coming to work or when I'm going out. So I don't know how. But please, Legosians and everyone, please, just the traditional institutions, respect them and be safe. That's all I can tell anybody. Let's not start challenging. They start to school. The owners of the land have a right to carry out their activities. So please, let's respect them and let's be safe. If their oro is between 12 midnight and 5.30 a.m., please, let everybody be safe. Go in line and let us keep it. Yeah, give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's. And I hear that the king has also assured the people that there will not be any kind of consequences to them when they come out to vote on Saturday. Because the process ends before the election time. The election is 8 to 2. Yes. The oro is 12 midnight to 5.30 a.m. So nobody's coming out to vote at 5.30 a.m. Except you have other things you want to do. Except you want to do other things. Okay, another thing that has been thrown up of late is the issue of indigenship. Why? Look, I am one of the most destabilized Nigerians. I believe, I love every tribe in this country. I have friends caught across every part of this country. I love Nigeria to my marrow. This is the only thing I have going for me. Yeah, I could see that from the fire with which he defended the country and I find that very, very good. Let me say this. I have not benefited anything directly from any government in this country. Maybe the only thing I benefited from government of this country because of my vice education, which was free, let's put it that way. But I have never benefited. I've never worked for government. I've never had contract with any government. I don't even know any government house. In this country, I've never been to any. I've been a vocal political activist, a vocal commentator on radio. I've decided I've supported, I've put my life on the line, I've lost friends. I've lost family members because they hated me for my views and my positions with respect to government and their policies and everything. I must defend this country. So I love Nigeria. But you see, anywhere you are, you must know who you are. You must know your roots. So I can't come to Lagos Tarobin's shoulder with the owners of Lagos. I've lived in Lagos. All my taxes are paid in Lagos. I've not paid any tax in Lagos State. I'm from Lagos State. I've not paid any tax in Lagos State. Maybe before I go to Lagos State, when I did some work, I've not paid tax in Lagos State. I paid my tax in Lagos. But I will not come and impose my will in Lagos. Even if I'm qualified to contest election in Lagos, I haven't lived in Lagos for the past how many years. But it's said that I will not come. But is anyone imposing his will in Lagos at this point in time? Look, if you see what is happening, except we want to live in denial. I like want to live in denial. If we see the narratives that are going on, the narratives that are going on does not speak well of anybody who is a sojourner to Lagos. The narratives that are going on, I have had challenges. I have challenged a lot of people who had argument left as a center. The main concept that anybody who wakes up as a Lagos is the no man's land. It's so insulting to Lagosians. Even the aborigines of Lagos, even not to talk of the pool of Ekbe, the pool of Badagri, the pool of Ikorodu, the pool of K2. I'm talking about typical traditional area where people are. The people of Isaleco, yes, there are some infiltrations of the Brazilians and people that let me live history. But it cannot tell me that Badagri was a no man's land. Or that Ekbe was a no man's land. Or Ekbe was a no man's land. So if you are telling me that Azuli is a no man's land, okay, well, it's a new area. If I tell you that Amuradofi is a no man's land. But if there is no man's land, how do people get to that place? So for me, we must all respect ourselves and conduct ourselves in the light of where we are. Now, even people who commit to say Lagos is a no man's land, he calls from a place to Lagos now. Why does the person go back there for Christmas or for, or something, when they die in Lagos, you are taking back to that place. If Lagos is a no man's land. Why not bury in Lagos, in your house in Lagos as a no man's land? So I am not against the fact that- You know this narrative is very unfortunate, isn't it? I have lived in Lagos for years. Never been intimidated by any original legosian. I have legosian friends. No body, no body. But because whatever is in particular reasons, and this thing showed up, the ugly head always doing political error. Thank you, you just hit it. Let me say this, let me just make this briefly. If for every particular reasons, now, politicians want to explore that aspect, that aspect, and then you give yourself to be as pleasant as that aspect, then you are hitting your head against the original owners of Lagos. And when they react, if they react, it will become- Would it be right to say it is actually the politicians that are bringing up this narrative, knowing it's going to stir up emotions and cause problems? Because I don't even see any non-indigent coming out to beat his chest and say, I'm going to, this is a no man's land, therefore I'm going to grab this and grab that and grab that. Lagos have been very, very accommodative of the body. Let me say this, Lagosians have no Lagosians in the House Assembly. It can happen in reverse states, in my state. It can't happen in a human state, not in a number of states. And from a number of states. You can't say that for sure. It can't happen. Just like I said, it's politicians that are raising these things. I know that with this indigenous ship and the settler ship issue, I mean it's mainly between the myself, the North-Eastern brothers and the Eurobars. And of course, the South-Easterners have a large presence in Lagos. Lagos is a melting point for everybody. And we all come here, we all make up because all the businesses are here. The prosperity, I mean, the big prosperity is here. Even though it can still make it anywhere you are. And Lagos is said to be a mega city. It's a mega, I mean. And that's, it can only come about by the population. Yes, is it the economic capital? I mean, I know the first time I came to Lagos, the very first time I came to Lagos was in 1982. That first start area, we are all empty lands. I know, I lived in a satellite town there. We are all empty lands. But today, that's a different ballgame. It has a different story. So when people come, we are here. Yes, it can make anywhere you are home, you know. But again, so when, I remember, that the, when the PDP was still in contention. The PDP always want to get that part, that population. Because naturally, I think the Igbo's naturally are conservative in nature. So even in the South, it's equal that the PDP makes waves. So that again affects wherever they are, you know. So it's, in fact, it's not a bad thing to be, to have a particular ideology and to believe in it. So it, for me, it's not bad. So, well, anytime it is a lecture, I remember when this man was contesting, he was made to talk about that population. The, the population will make him governor. The population will make him, that was this man, what's his name now? The last PDP governorship candidate. I think he contended two times. So they have said that on that, that, they have said that. Is it Jimi Agbadi? Jimi Agbadi, yes. He was, he was very open about it. That Igbo population will make him governor. He has, he promised so much to that, come into that segment. And so they have teared off that on that, that, that. So the people are even aware that they have a strength. And so they can use their strengths. But you see, you don't commit suicide by putting an X in one basket. You will revolt, if it back boomerangs, it will revolt against you negative. And that's what happened, happened today. When the B factor came in, yes. Obihad is not just the Igbo factor. Obihad appeared in so many factors. There are so many factors that helped Obihad to win Lagos. And one of them is the Christian community factor. The Christian community adopted Obihad as their, as a Christian candidate. And that is also why he made women in the North Central part of the country. The Christian factor. So that was a very strong factor. And again, the youths, which was also a familiar. So it's not just the Igbo factor. Yeah, the Igbo factor was strong. I'm glad you're making this clarity and clarification because some people are beginning to misconstrue or analyze it wrongly to make it seem as if the LP thing is about religion and tribe. It goes beyond that. Well, I am of the opinion that the LP is opinion. Yes, it has a very big tribal factor. In the sense that the younger Igbo's connected more to it. And that used that to virtual, the mainstream Igbo establishment was PDP, was PDP. And they were all shouted because they knew that that factor was going to cause them a lot of votes. And it did cause them a lot of votes. I think who listened to the lecture was basically, it would be hotted at Igbo far more than Igbo. Even hotted to Igbo. Because the main block, being the Igbo's, being the Southeast and part of South-South, was the nearby Obie. And so with that, and don't forget, the Igbo's are very good in propaganda and social media. So they use it very well. And so that connected with the youth, especially those that, the N-South group, those that participate in the N-South group. So that connected very much with them, not because they are not Igbo candidates, but when a constructed group throws up a thing and then fly it very well in the middle, it gains ground. And then the Christian factor, which for me, I'm a Christian, I think with the most suicidal thing the Christians have done in this country. Because now you have exposed yourself to ridicule and to other kinds of, let me not go there. No, let's go there. Why would you say that? Because you know that there was this thing about the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC and then the Christian-Muslim ticket of the Labour Party. And then you have the Christian-Muslim ticket of the PDP. The Muslim-Christian ticket of the PDP. Yeah, well, would have, whichever way. Okay, so because the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC was started to have been a major thing that would have stood against them and it did stand against them, which was why we have the Christian community rising up the way they did. No, what is it? Number one, every political party must have their calculations as to the best formula that can win an election. Is that an ideology? Because, I mean, a Biden could not have taken a Kamala rise as a vice because they share different ideologies. But the establishment have called them and said, guy, if you want to help you win this election, it was the Kamala, you understand? The establishment has to intervene. Kamala was not Biden's first choice. But when you know the formula can help you win an election, you go for that formula. Political calculations. Political calculations. Look, we're not going there to discuss the church or discuss the mosque. And that is the unfortunate thing that we have made try to run in our political system in our life. We're not using religion. For goodness sake, all my friends are Muslims. My landlords are Muslims. We have wonderful, fantastic relationship. My best friend that has helped me, even when my Christian brothers could not help me, that has helped me, I'm not saying I don't have support in my Christian base. But I tell you, somebody that when I was in their strain, in their depression, the European that came to my rescue was a Muslim brother, was a Muslim. So I don't have any religion to me. When the churches, look, I've not gone to my church for about four weeks for the election and since that election. Because I had serious quarrel, serious quarrel. Call me if you want to call me. I will tell you the truth. At first I'm concerned that was a suicide. Because you think that the Christians who can give you, in it is their Christians now. Of course. In Bilibili they are Christians. Obie happens to be a Christian because they're Christian. Let me not go there because, I mean, the election is over. Yeah, the election is over. So that factor played well in Lagos. Because you have the big churches, you have the redeemed, the Kenan land, you have the big churches, the churches were out and Lagos was a melting pot. But isn't it so sad that even in the 21st century how many years since independence Nigeria has been polarized along all these divides? It's very sad for me. That is the sad part of my everyday activity that we still see ourselves in this guy. Look, I have visited 36, 34 states in this country. I've not visited two. I've visited 34 states in this country. So people who have not traveled, I know they will sit in their corners of their room with their bro data and be sending rubbish and be talking rubbish. People who have traveled to other parts of this country, you appreciate Nigeria. Definitely. I wish I can live in Jaws or I can live in Kardina. I wish I can live in Jaws or in Kardina. I look, when people have not gone out, they will sit in the corners of their, of their maybe somebody's room or something and they will bro data. They will throw in all sorts of negative energy. They will talk about negative vibes across the country. I have the best of friends among the booths. I can mention their names. I have best of friends among the booths. How do you see the governorship election playing out in river states? That's my state. Uh-huh. I'm involved. Well, river states will give you an interesting state. Sincerely. But I still see the PDP running home. The labor part is no longer existing in river states. As well as governorship relations constant. You can't say that for sure. Well, their candidate has withdrawn and all much collapsed. You know, that was a problem with a candidate. It has, it has, it has collapsed. That's what you are withdrawn. I think the race is a three horse race between the PDP, the APC, and the SDP. Okay. So it's going to be an interesting race, really. But I still, well, if, like we all say, if the, if the process is smooth, clear, I still see the PDP having an edge. What about Cardinal State? Cardinal State has an interest in situation where the incumbent vice deputy governor is still running. No, no, it's running as a deputy. It's running as a deputy for the, for the APC. For the APC. It's going to be also an interesting race because the APC lost Cardinal. In fact, APC did woefully in Cardinal in the presidential election. They did woefully. But at this point, Artiku is not on the ballot. Well, most of them voted Artiku being in Natana. Obie is not on the ballot. Most of those that voted in the, like Sata Cardinal voted because of Obie. So Obie is not in the ballot. Artiku is not in the ballot. Now it is all of us. It's all of us. So we now need to slug it out. So it's going to be an interesting, you see. Because some of the factors that are played in the presidential election were not played in the government. Definitely. The government election is a more, a domestic election. So it's going to be, okay, now we are back home. Artiku is not on the ballot. Okay, voted Artiku because it's in Natana. Okay, it's in the Natana agenda. Because Artiku played Natana very well. Yeah. For a part of the campaign. Matter of fact, he did make some very societal statement at some point from the cost of the campaign. Exactly. No, but it paid out for him in the notch, really. Look, Artiku will have won the election if Obie was not there. Okay, you think so. If Obie was not there, Artiku will have won the election. It will have been a good run for the APC. If Obie was not there. And that's why, forgive me. That's why I said, Dinibus victory is God's divine. And so when Christians are saying this and I say, look, God can't create anything. God is not man. Okay, let's go to Oyo State. How do you see it playing out there? Oyo, Makin Day. Mm. That's clean for Larry. Ha, ha, ha, ha. So many things were going on. At some point we thought that the LP had adopted him because some people said, okay, for him to have joined with the G5, he had shot himself in the foot. Yes. And then LV... No, no, no, no. All the G5 shot himself in the foot, really. All the G5 shot the... Apart from Wike Damai, that is still standing. All the G5 shot himself in the foot. I don't know how standing Wike is because he's been trying to assuade the merits of the people over what played out on February 25th. We see Stanley because he won his Sassafan in all the Senators. He won most of the House of Rep seats. I'm talking about the governorship seat. So he still has... So that was a standing. You want to comment on Othong that lost both the states to APC, lost all the Senators seats, lost all the House of Rep seats. He knew, he said it before the election that he was ready to lose even his... That's the bragado. Who's the one to win the election? Also, it's a Makin Day that lost all the Senators seats to APC, lost most of the House of Rep seats. I think the PDP has maybe one or very few House of Rep seats. I think... I was still living in Badon. So I think Badon Southwest and Northwest was PDP, I don't know about that place. So, he's in for a very big run. I'm going to give it to the APC. All right, well, that's your thing. Because there are factors working against Shei. Remember some of the people that supported Shei in 2019 against the larger factor. Although they have a candidate, they're talking about the Accord Party. They have a candidate, but... Oh, that of the Accord Party, they have crisis there. I had one of them, the chairman, they got the chapter and we discussed that they have serious issues in Oyoste. But I've been told that our time is up. But before we go, your last word to Nigerians watching. So much apathy, fear and so many things just going on out there. What do you say to an electorate watching you? Should he go and vote? Should he stay at home and protect himself? I don't think there is a God in Nigeria. Go out there and vote. There is no... I don't see any crisis anywhere. Just go out there. Go and perform as your responsibility. And that people love your country. Do good to her. Pray for her. Make sure that you defend her. Defend your country. Make sure that you have this magnetic fight in you. You have no doubt, even if you jack back, you are still in Nigeria. You can't be in Britain. You carry that grain. You carry Nigerian genes. So love your country and protect her. May God bless Nigeria and may God defend and protect our troops. May God continue to bless Nigeria. Lester Walcott, an accountant, public affairs analyst, has been my guest on today's episode of The Run Up. You've heard him. Go out and vote. Love Nigeria. Pray for Nigeria. Drop all these tribalistic things going on, the violence, the sugary, everything. None of them benefits anyone. Trust me. I am Maureen Menongwese. Many thanks for watching. Good afternoon.