 On the breakfast, the federal government says President Mohamed Buhari will sign the Electoral Amendment Bill into law on Friday. And that gives a lot of Nigerians some hope. Zanfar Debti Governor Ledger Lee impeached because it did not defect from the People's Democratic Party to the aggressive Congress alongside Governor Bello Matawale. And as usual, who will also be taking a look through the national dailies and have, I guess, make sense of all of the big stories. Very good morning to you. Welcome to the Breakfast on Plus TV Africa. And what is a beautiful Thursday morning? I am Kofi Brotel. I am Messy Buporski to be back in your screen this beautiful morning. All right, lots to install for you on the breakfast today. We have a lot of legal issues to look at, a majority of legal issues to look at. And constitutional issues, Electoral Act Amendment Bill reworked, passed back to President Buhari. We hear that that bill might be signed on Friday, not just on Friday, but we hear might be signed by noon on Friday. So there's a time being put to it by sources in the presidency. We'll talk about that. And also we'll be looking at what's been happening, like we said, in Zanfar State. And also, very importantly, the role of youth in the elections and democracy and politics in the country. Bumper package ahead for you. But of course, are training segments as usual? Well, so we set up with the top trending this morning and we're looking at that usually. We look at issues that are generating conversation across board. Now, the president or the presidency had said that Nigerians would probably not be able to transport themselves from Ligas to the U.S. state capital, but not for the railway project that has been put together by the administration of Buhari. That's the APC administration. And that is a serious conversation that's ongoing. And, you know, in the words that's been put out, legacy by the railway project, Nigerians will be trekking not for Buhari. And so people are talking about it. People are reacting. And up until this moment, that has not, you know, really stopped. But to even look at the case, there's been several arguments around in this particular issue, you know, the legacy by the project. And some people will say the argument, first of all, set up with the APC and the PDP as to who is responsible for all of this project. Is it the APC government or is it the PDP government? But the truth is, government is a continuum. It doesn't really necessarily matter. I mean, who starts it? So that's one of the characteristics of government. We're taught that, you know, at the elementary level of government. Kofi is smiling. But that's the truth. You know, it's a continuum. So it doesn't really matter who started it. If Kofi started it, Messi finished it. It's great. Or at the end of the day, we're talking about a government as a whole. And so that's not even an issue. But some other persons are saying that how could we be making this statement? But to look at it, you know, in this real sense, I feel that it's really, really sad. Because over time, we seem to be applauding things that should come to us naturally. I mean, that should not be a favor. It's just natural. Government is there to provide basic amenities, infrastructure, and ensure that life is comfortable for Nigerians. Kofi, what do you think about it? Well, you know, it's... The president is, you know, basically trying to, you know, tell the world and tell people that there was a bad situation between Lagos and Ibadon Express, on the Lagos Ibadon Express way, and that the road was really not there. You know, it's what he's saying, his words. The road was really not there. And, you know, if he says people would have been trekking because the road was just not there. The rails went just not there. And there was so much insecurity. And maybe he's, it might be an exaggeration of the facts, because he can't trek from Lagos Ibadon. I don't know if it's a trekable. But you've had persons who have actually trekked to, you know, salute the president? No, no, no. I'm talking about just people who want to travel from Lagos Ibadon. I don't know if it's a trekable distance. It's not. But it's possible. I haven't been, you know, to Ibadon via Lagos. I've been to Ibadon via other routes. But I think maybe it's an exaggeration for the president to say that, you know, Nigerians would have been trekking if the rails were not there. But I think maybe we shouldn't lose the points he's trying to make. You know, politicians say these things from time to time. There are so many fish to fry. You know, there's so many things to look at in the country. So the quicker Nigerians just realize that, okay, this is just a statement, political statement, just to say, okay, we've done the road, we've done the rail, and it's helping people move, I think, the better for the country. You know, every administration will always blow its trumpet, you know. And if you look at the rail sector, it's a trumpet to be blown in the country as far as this administration. It's one of their trumpets to blow, actually. The manner of performance is credible as well in other sectors like the economy, you know, other sectors like power supply, all right, even the petroleum, you know, downstream and even upstream, you know. But when you look at rails, when you look at rails, that is a shining light as far as the Buhar administration is concerned. That's where they can. So, I mean, if you don't blow your trumpet, who blew it for you? I really don't know why I'm just babing with a lot of fun. So I think whilst the president may have exaggerated, you know, when he said that people would have been trekking, this is what he said, quote, the people from the southwest can tell better because between Lagos and Ipando, by now, if we hadn't done what we did, people would have been trekking because the road was not there, the rail was not there, and there was so much insecurity. And so, like I said, it's an exaggeration. But indeed, that Lagos Ipando Express, we've been hearing of it since we were kids, you understand, since we've been hearing of it. Now, whilst the rails have been done, has the road been done? That's another question to ask. What's the state of the Lagos Ipando Express way? Because are you just going to say, we've done the rails? Which is fantastic. What about the roads? Because you have to have a multi multiplicity, a variety of, what do you call it, of, of transition modes. You know, look at what happened in Lagos State some days ago where you have, I think, a lag ride. You know, if not hundreds, maybe hundreds of blue vehicles on the road of Lagos State, a partnership between the Lagos State government and a private Chinese car company, you know, somebody was asking, okay, do we need more cars, you know, on the roads? Traffic in Lagos is so much. People are already into, you know, boat and Uber and Taxify and all these things. Do we need more cars? Shouldn't the government be looking at diversifying, making sure they focus on the rail and making sure that they fix roads, making sure that they make transition better and also have more BRT buses, you know, have more metro buses and then improve water transportation. You know, do we need more cars? So that diversity is very important and I think the president should also tell us about the roads. So I totally understand where you're coming from but let's also look at it from this angle that the issue of infrastructure. Now when we decided that we're going to hand over a will and submit ourselves to government, so it's called a social contract. We'll pay a taxes, we'll be law abiding citizens and in turn government will do XYZ. It includes provision of, you know, basic infrastructure and the real way infrastructure is not, you know, ruled out of it. So for a lot of Nigerians and for me, the concern is, it's like having a family, okay, so I'm going to digress a bit and then come back to where I'm saying. So Kofi is like, you having a family now and then you have a kid or you have children. It is your responsibility fundamentally that you provide for them, the basic things, food, shelter, clothing and all of that. There's no need to brag about it. There's no need to come up and say, oh, if not for me as your father, you won't be alive, you won't be eating, you won't go to school. What is that? By nature, by the fact that you are the father of these children, it comes naturally. So this is not a favor. So if we have the railway project, it is not a favor to Nigerians. The fact that we, in a democratic dispensation, this thing should come to us. Nigerians are paying their taxes. I mean, at this point in time, we're talking about the real project. The world has moved away from us. We're talking about it in 2022, 2021. People have moved away. So it's not a favor. But this is what happened because across, but we found that when government actually, I'm back on several projects in different states, I mean, when I was in the south, you know, south, south region, south east, you definitely see government coming to say, okay, so they constructed the road and, oh, we have to applaud for the government. Oh, the road has been constructed. Why? It's just basic. It's natural. It should come to you. And it shouldn't be something, but if you also want to look at it as well, on the other hand, a lot of people have also argued, which is actually true. There's a fact check. And if you look at it, 2018, August 28, in 2012, that was when, you know, this rail project, the Lagos Ibadon project was actually approved. And that has been fact checked. And that was during the administration of Good Lucky Billy Jonathan. So of course, it's the PDP. So, but however, like I always say, it doesn't really matter who started it. It doesn't matter who started it. Whereas the APC is the PDP. The truth is, no, the truth is, it's a project that's ongoing, right? It's a project that is started. So if you have a government started, if you started something and I completed, it's fine, because that's what government is about. It's a continuum. And no one should begin to begin to, I mean, brag about it. I think that the reason why that's been talked about is the fact that, oh, I'm not saying it sounds like you're doing Nigerians a favor. No, not the favor. That should come naturally because we're in the democratic dispensation. These are taxpayer, people are paying their taxes. And what should we expect? The law of social contract, I mean, the social contract would expect that we give our will and in turn government would do XYZ. And so that's it. But also on the other hand, you mentioned the issue of how safe the roads are, right? And even priorities, if you want to even look at it before the real project or the real way, you know, the railway system actually started for legacy burden. People had other means of, you know, moving away. A lot of people also argue that, you know, right now the insecurity on the roads, I mean, the insecurity with the system is more. People had the means of which was even cheaper. I mean, or further belief, that's the word you use because you talk about moving from legacy, but it should be about 1500. But right now you're looking at the real at 3500 and what have you. And so some people say, okay, speed and all of that. So necessarily all of this is that should we be sounding like we're doing Nigerians favor when, you know, you do what you should do. It's natural. You should come to the people. And that's where, you know, the particular arguments come from. But however, that's a good thing. Interesting. Well, for the, the legacy butter expressway, the margin director of the Nigerian sovereign investment authority, he said, you know, earlier this year that the express will be completed before the end of 2022. That was, you know, on Thursday actually stated this during a panel session. So before the end of 2022, looking at completing that expressway, and it's 77.78% complete. This was as far back as January. Yeah, January 27. This is when he said this, it was 77.78% complete. What is left for the express way is the big flyovers that need to be done in certain parts of the road. So the road has been basically done, you know, to almost a complete, complete stage of phase, but nipples and flowers there. And so, so it's good to see that this most of transition are, are there for Lagos, people of Lagos, it will make, you know, business easier. But the thing is, is mercy. Yes, government is not expected to be blowing, you know, to be saying, you know, I gave you this, that's what they're expected to do. But in politics, you have to sell yourself. You have to say, this is what we've done. Don't sound condescending, don't sound like you're doing the people a favor, you know, but there's a very little way to say it and not sound like you did the people a favor, you understand. So it's just politics, you sell yourself, you try to, you know, sell your achievements, try to sell your accomplishments, what you've done, your promises that you fulfilled. Because there are a lot of people who say, you didn't do that. You didn't do this. And there's a number of things the president hasn't done. You know, security is one of them. That was a high hope, corruption, another one, you know, with all the cases, slavery in the center. So when you're grasping for something to sell to the people, you know, you can't blame politics. And you should also, you know, look at the language. But I think that the, the government has done well, especially in the rail sector. Though I think that the rail line should, we should have a southern coastal line. That is very important. You know, some of the lines we have, you know, where they lead to, you ask yourself, okay, what about the southern, southern coastal rail line? That's very important as well. For business, really, for business, it's very important. All the way from Calabar, you know, the, the westernmost part of the south, southern coastal rail line to the, you know, the easternmost, no south, east, to the west, you know, you have that. It's very important. Well, as much as we would not take out the fact that, you know, this continuing government, and that's what government should be. So we shouldn't be about, you know, blowing that particular trumpet. So whatever it is, it's a great thing. But I think that the reason- We can go on and on about this. I'm just telling you how, you know, politics works. No, no, I totally, I totally understand. But the reason that why the people are talking now, you're all, I mean, you also need to understand the reason why the people are talking. Because first of all, it's okay to, it's okay. We have been able to achieve XYZ. But maybe the language that's been put in, you can't tell us that, because it sounds like you're doing us a favor. Oh, definitely. That's why I said it was exaggerated. But before now, because people, there was still movement before the railway system. And if we look at it where even, I mean, we're long overdue for all of this, the world has moved away. If we say we're a giant of Africa at this point in time, we even want to look at the railway, if we want to look at the system, the real project that we have right now, I mean, is it up to, you know, international staff can be compared? That's true. We've also had security concerns. You've had several reports where there were attacks. I mean, there was a time where we bought it and then we're supposed to be in it, pardon. And something happened because it was an inspection. I was actually on that particular report. And I remember that it wasn't really like you had the bandits coming out, but it was an imminent threat. And the fact that we had security personnel, because of the people we had on board, you had senators and what have you. But we had young lads and teenage children being children and whatever you want to say, which was an imminent threat. But you know, which was imminent. You had the throwing stones and what have you. Yeah. Well, like I said, Mercy, you know, security is a concern. I already said that economy is a concern, for instance. But it doesn't take away the fact that the roads are built, the rail lines are there. And that's on credit. He never said the security. He just said the rail lines are there and the roads are there. No, which is imminent. I mean, if you want to look at it, that's a given. The rail lines are there. But prior to the rail lines, it is because of how this information has been put. And a lot of people have questions about security. No, a lot of people have actually questioned how, you know, this information comes because it comes, you know, it's been made to look like, oh, this is a lot of favor to Nigerians. And that's why you have to begin to check the facts and say, okay, if you're not beginning to take credit, because this has been a serious argument with the APC and the PDP, who's responsible for the rail project, the legacy burden, to be very specific. And looking at the facts, because it's been fact-checked, double fact-checked, you would want to go check that as well. Okay, okay. Let me get you right. You said the PDP approved the project. No, so yes, of course. You want to go down that road. You said the PDP approved the project. No, the project started in 2012. And who was president in 2012? I mean, I think it was Dr. Goodlock, Jonathan. So good. Yes. So, like I said, I think it's been said at some point somewhere, you know, credit has been given. I'm sure you've checked the archives to see that through the former president. I'm just saying that all politicians should do this, even if someone starts to project or sign something, you know, when you come on board and you see, okay, this thing is not really gone far, and you begin to do it and you complete it, you give yourself the credit, you know. And of course, it now behoves on the Dr. Jonathan, you know, who, by the way, has been on everybody's lips, a lot of people's lips yesterday with G.J. is coming. It now behoves on him to say, I started it. You understand? I started it. These are politicians. This is what they do. No, no, I totally understand, but you also need to understand where this is coming from. At least we know. We know the truth. When you wake up and tell your child that... I think that's what matters. We know who started it. So, no, but that's not it. The reason why Nigerians are reacting, because we're looking at the reaction that's been caught across for, you need to see the comment. It's like Kofi waking up to say, you're telling your son that the reason you are live today is because I, your father, gave you life and gave you education and gave you all of that. So now, what can you say? Now, what do we say? We now say, no, we know that you started, you completed it, but it was started by someone, it was signed, okay, let's put a word signed. It was signed by someone, approved by someone. You came and then you did it. You completed the process that started. Then also, okay, completed. Then also, you can say, well, we were not tracking before you came and full stop. What I mean, if I were a politician, I would sell myself. I would tell people what I've done. So now you need to, maybe the presidency needs to look for, you know, another peer, because when you sound this way to Nigerians and say that the legacy by the project saved people from tracking, then that's a lot. What do you have to, necessarily we understand that the government, I already said that. No, I mean, you know, this is kind of, well, let's let leave it, you know, we wasn't necessarily agreeing. Yeah, I think it's, but you understand where I'm coming from, and I understand where you're coming from. I do, I do, certainly, which is great. Well, we need to go away right now because I, of course, we would never, just never be on the same page. And when I expected to be on the same page, by the way, we're on the same page in some things, you know, interesting. We'll talk about that off air. Well, that's the much we can take on top trending. We definitely return tomorrow with more interesting issues generating conversation across different spaces. In the meantime, let's take this break. And when we return, we'll be looking at the national daily. So, of course, we have an analyst join the conversation, help us analyze some of the big stories on a national daily. Please stay tuned. We'll be right back.