 You're welcome back. Right now we're going to discuss the 160 million NARA SUVs. Remember that the chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sonday Karimi said that assembly members deserve 160 million NARA WOT SUVs while insisting it has to be supplied by foreign car brands. Okay, that's what he said. They needed, for the duties that they are about to perform, they needed because the Nigerian roads are bad and they need a foreign car manufacturer to supply that because they have a big name. And that big name also translates to quality and durability. Those were his arguments for the 160 million NARA SUVs. We have two guests that will be talking about that, how they feel about it. I know a lot of people will be on different divides. Some will be saying they are happy with it. Some will say they are not happy with it. But let's get the opinion about two guests. We have Mr. Biodon Shoumi, a political affairs analyst. Good morning and welcome to the program Mr. Shoumi. We also have Mohamed Abdulahi, also a public affairs analyst. Mohamed, good morning and welcome to the program. Good morning Nigerians, it was my pleasure. Okay, so let me start with Mr. Shoumi. I was just before the show saying maybe you are going to have your own SUV too. But what do you feel about this argument of the chairman of the senate committee on services Sunday, Karimi, the reasons they are having the SUVs of 160 million NARA each? Okay, well let me hear what Mohamed would have to say about this before because all these things that you have mentioned, he had arguments for them. Mohamed, what do you feel in the first place about this 160 million NARA? Let me put that into perspective. If you are using 160 million NARA to pay people who are earning 30,000 NARA as minimum wage, you will pay 5,333.3 people their minimum wage for a month. So 5,000 people's salaries is what is going into one car and the argument is that they should use this to do their oversight function in their constituencies that have bad roads. What is your take? Thank you for the question. I think Mr. Beaudon has actually given a whole lot of background analogy on the issue. But what I will add is the fact that yes, perhaps legally the National Assembly members have right to acquire such very good, perhaps legally. I am using the word perhaps because I am not sure. But again, let's look at it from the moral point of view this time around. And what do I mean? The country is going through a whole lot at the moment. The cost of living is skyrocketing. In fact, majority of Nigerians are falling under the poverty rider. And then so I feel in this moment in time is actually not the right time for the National Assembly members who, whether they want to agree or not, are actually above the Nigerian middle class. They are part of Nigeria's upper class. If you are a senator or a House of Right member in Nigeria, majority of Nigerians will believe you are part of the upper class. So I think morally, even not even legally, it's not the right time to start talking about acquisition of vehicles that the total worth is about 56.7 billion. Read my lips, sir. 56.7 billion Naira at this moment. And the very shocking thing that's happening. The very shocking position that is even happening aside the fact that they are going ahead with the acquisition. The most shocking thing is that they are not trying to plow back this money into Nigeria's economy. They are taking this humongous sum and dumping it into the already developed Japanese economy because they are talking about Toyota cars. Where we have local manufacturers, at least not one, not three in Nigeria, that should be able to meet that demand. Even not immediately. If you give them time, I'm very sure, perhaps in four, five or one year plus, Nigerian local manufacturers should be able to meet that demand. But aside the fact that the timing is wrong, the most challenging thing for me is the fact that this money is being dumped in an other economy, creating jobs in another economy where we have so many Nigerians, perhaps here, who might be losing their jobs or not even have what to do at all. So in fact, this is the moral bankruptcy that we'll talk about. And it is shocking that people who are supposed to create laws, who are supposed to make laws, who are supposed to see these things clearly, are given very flimsy justifications about it. What stops the National Assembly, for instance, in promulgating, sorry, the word promulgation is not right, in creating laws to say everything that is meant to be from the government should be locally sourced. It's very possible where it is possible. It's very, very, very possible. And it's shocking that it's the same set of individuals that are trying to dump 56.7 billion at this critical time where everything, the cost of living is so skyrocketing, that they're trying to take out 56.7 billion out of the economy just to buy cars. Come on. It's really shocking. So like I said, Mr. Biodon has given a whole lot of analogies, so I wouldn't like to repeat that. But my question is, even if this is legally right, what about the moral point of view at this point in time where majority of Nigerians can't eat three times a day? Not to even talk of, we don't want to talk about paying school fees, paying housing and other necessities. We've been told to tighten our bills. So the National Assembly is going to go up the salaries of 18,900 people because once we mentioned 56.7 billion, I was just making a calculation how many people can be paid at 30,000 Naira. And what is the cost that they are even talking about palliatives that will be given to people? How many people are going to be given these palliatives and all that? And then they're spending this much money. Let me go to Mr. Biodon. Both of you have mentioned the fact that they said that they are going to fund an economy that is not ours. One of the arguments that this Senate committee chairman said hard was that, well, these people have a big name and so they want to patronize them because that big name also has quality. Whenever our own local manufacturers get that kind of a big name, they will now begin to patronize them. That was the argument that he had. Maybe I shouldn't say what I felt, but if you permit me, I felt insulted and really, really, really disappointed in the fact that you are seeing once they grow, you are going to patronize them who will make them grow. So these arguments he had, I want you to look at them and X-ray them one after the other if you may. He said these people have a big name so they are going there. They deserve this cost because they have to do oversight function, which you also said that they are supposed to be the ones to take care of the roads that they are complaining about and all that. So what do you think, even if, like Mohammed said, it is legally right, even if I don't know whether it is legally right, but even if it is legally right, what do you think at this point can be done because a lot of Nigerians are saying they should be stopped, but nothing is being done by to that effect. What do you think can be done? Should we let them go on? Should we stop them? How can we go about it? How can we do? Well, it's crazy because these same people who are saying they need to go to their constituencies to do their oversight functions according to the excuse it was given, also go to these same places during elections without these cars and they are able to enter these places without any problems. Then once the election is over, the roads become bad and the oversight functions take a toll on them and all that. And then Mohammed, one of the arguments also was that even the ministers, why are people not looking at ministers and just taking care of or just concerned about what the National Assembly members are doing. The ministers have four to five vehicles in their entourage. That was the argument also he brought up that if the ministers can have this, why can't the National Assembly members have it as well? And so some people are, just to follow up the question that I asked Mr. Souwami, some people are saying that it is not right that the National Assembly will have this kind of pass to allocate the kind of monies they allocate to themselves, the constitution should be looked into. Do you also buy the idea that it's time to look at this constitution and change a lot of things? Yes, it's very possible but you look at who, I mean the institution that will lead the charge in terms of the constitutional amendment is actually the National Assembly. So it's almost an exercising, because you are asking people who are benefiting from the loopholes of the constitution to amend it, to change it, to give them, to stop them from benefiting. So it is almost an exercising futility. If you want the same National Assembly to lead the charge, to change some of these things that the constitution allows them to do. But having said that, I think if I want to contribute to what Mr. Biudun said earlier, it's so shocking. And I keep saying it, it tells our moral bankruptcy as a country that you have 109 senators, over 360 House of Rep members, and not one, not just one out of this whole lot feels no. I don't want to take this vehicle. I'm speaking to the press, I'm speaking back to my, I'm telling my constituency that no, this vehicle that is being, you know, about to be purchased, no, I am not part of it. Come on, it's not shocking. More than 400 and something members, almost 500, not one person. I'm not even talking about political parties now, because for me, I see no difference in almost all of our political parties to be very candid. But just one person to just change that narrative, or one aid, even just one aid of one of the senators or one of the House of Rep members say, I've advised my, you know, my principal to say, no, we shouldn't do this. And he's going ahead to do this. And because of this, I'm resigning. We are not seeing any, we are not, it's shocking. So it tells of the moral bankruptcy of almost the entire country, you know, and it's, and it's so bad. It's so terrible that, you know, we, we, how do I put it? I'm even lost of words, lost for words. So it's, it's, I keep talking about the morality that they have legal backing that they are going ahead with this. And if you look at the minister, as the same, the ministers, they might have a point as well, but we should also understand that two wrongs can never make a right. In fact, it is also their function as the National Assembly to checkmate the executive. So while the executives are buying, perhaps, probably two, three vehicles for the ministers, where were they? Why were they not shouting? Why were they not saying they were against it? You know, telling Nigerians that this is not right or this is not the right moment. Nigerians don't have the funds to fund this kind of lifestyle for its politicians, where the politicians are less than 2% of the 200 million plus population. You know, if you have this kind of largesse for the, for the 2%, what then is meant for, for the modern 98% ordinary Nigerians that are on the street? What then is left? It's, it's, it's sucking. And I'm very angry at the moment that you have people who are already elites still trying to, you know, to, you know, to, to make life so difficult for the ordinary Nigerians. So what's left for, to carry out project hospitals, build schools and even the roads that they're talking about was left if, if, if, if, if all these monies are meant to service their own luxuries. By the way, the ministers were not elected by us. So if in our constituency we elected you, we sent you there for an assignment and your assignment is to represent us cry when we need to cry and laugh with us when we need to laugh. Take our problems to, to the national level as it were. But now this is what they're doing and they're saying that it's because of us that they are taking this money because they have to come back to our constituencies that we don't even see them anyway. Because a lot of them have constituency offices. They never come to their constituency offices. Best they can do is after a quarter they come to their house and then expect everybody to come greet them, take some drinks, eat some food and then their boys are empowered with motorcycles or one or two with cars and that is it. That is my experience. I don't know what happens in the north. Maybe it happens better than it does in the south. But that's my experience. But right now what we are facing according to how both of you have spoken is a moral bankruptcy. Where do we start to begin to cultivate this patriotism which is fast dying in our society? Because a patriotic Nigerian like you said Mohammed at least one of them should stand up to say no I don't think this is good for our people at this time. So I am opting out. None of them has said that. So it speaks to the morality of the Nigerian populace. People that we select or elect to go and represent us and all that. Where do we start from to cultivate this patriotism, this moral standing that people should have when they go into public offices? Because if we continue like this we don't know what is going to happen in two, three, four other circles of election that might come and what the laws could be and how it will affect the people. Let me begin with you Mohammed and then end with Mr. Ashoumi. Yeah, I think it's simple. It's just simple that people need to be selfless but it's as simple as that. How do we teach selflessness? Yes, patriotism is all about being selfless. You know, not thinking about yourself. You know, thinking about the generality of the populace for God's sake. You know, and the shocking thing like you rightly analyzed is the fact that these people, they don't feel, they don't feel what the masses feel. So, you know, they don't feel it. Every other thing perhaps is paid for by the government, this caste that you're talking about, you know, the house that they live, the clothes that they wear, even to the food that they eat and the people that cook the food is all paid for by taxpayers' money. So, they don't feel anything that ordinary Nigerians are feeling. So, you know, but if we need to cultivate this morality that we talk about, it means we need to be selfless. We need to listen. We need to go down to the root causes of so many issues so that we put ourselves, you know, in that position and be able to feel it. But at the moment in time, these elites are not the shocking. All of their children don't school in Nigeria. So, how do you expect them to improve, to understand practically the level of the decay in terms of the educational sector and then try to improve it? How? It's just by lip service. You know, they don't go to Nigerian hospitals. Even for headache, they go to a European hospital, American hospital just for checkup and so on. So, how? So, that's why I said it behoves on the National Assembly to make sure that some of these laws are localized, but they are not doing it to make sure that people, particularly if I have my money as a private citizen, I can do whatever I want with you. Same thing with you. But it's not right for elected and appointed government people to think they can just do whatever they like. In being patriotic is that they need to patronize Nigerian goods. They need to buy money in Nigeria. They need to promote money in Nigeria. Oh, well. I don't know. I don't know how we'll begin to teach that. Mr. Shou, do you have a solution? How do we begin to teach patriotism to our citizens? Let's even forget about the politicians, because the politicians come from the people to become what they are. I know also that people have to, the citizens are to blame in so many cases, because these same politicians are the ones that come home, and we give them chief-tensy titles instead of recalling them if they do wrong, or they don't do well in the National Assembly and all that. But I'm concerned about the future of the children that we are having now. What kind of future will they have if the people who should make relevant laws that should safeguard their future are behaving in this manner? Where do we start to teach this patriotism to Nigerian citizens? Mr. Shou and me. Yes, I called you. Okay. Yeah, what you see is it grows in the foreground than what we're talking about. If you look at the political system we are practicing today, which basically makes it possible for law makers to do exactly what they are doing today, which has created the situation that you cannot reasonably expect doing that in a city from a particular system to change it. You realize that the issue is that it's run by the psychological angle to it, because many of the representatives and senators campaign and I think for the people to vote for them or the intention to represent them, many people talking that there's nothing they can do for you. But in this situation cannot be found in America, for instance, that practices presidential system of government. So here, whether it is parliamentary or presidential system of government or whatever laws are made in Nigeria, it doesn't seem as if the laws are the problem. It seems as if the people who should implement them are the problem. I think that's my position as well. I don't think it's actually the system that's a problem. Even though we understand that yes, the presidential system is far more expensive than the parliamentary system as suggested by Mr. Biodu. But I don't think it's actually the issue of the system of government. It's actually the issue of people in charge. And I've been very careful with my words, because like I keep saying, it's very possible that, yes, even though a majority of the services that the National Assembly enjoys has been monetized in the past by former President Ulussia Gombas-Konjo, but it's still very possible that by their laws, they are still entitled to such a largesse. I mean, these cars that are willing to expend 56.7 billion, it's very possible. So it's not about the system that we're on. It's about, perhaps even our own constitution, what it gives rights to, and people that draft it. Remember, if you allow me to digress a bit. Remember, just two months or so ago, when this new administration came into power, the revenue mobilization and whatsoever that's in charge of public affairs, I mean, public office holders, salaries, thank you, you know, actually tried to want to raise the salaries of public appointees, if not for the cries of Nigerians and perhaps the presidency that said, no, this is actually not the right time, which is actually true. So this is, but the laws allow them to do such. So I think the thing is, is shocking that we have such laws, we must find a way as a people to change these laws. But these laws for it to be changed, needed, the buy-in of the people that are enjoying this thing. So it's actually very difficult. It's very, it's like someone who is enjoying so much and you want to take that thing out of their own hands. So it's, we need the civil society within Nigerians to rise up, you know, to call for some of the changes to some of our laws. And I don't think necessarily is the system of government that we're going, that that's a problem here. Okay. You said you were digressing. It's still in line, but let's digress now officially, you know, we're rounding off. And I'd like just like your final words, both of you, to be on what is happening today. Today the Supreme Court will give verdict or will pass judgment, whatever that may be. It can be in three ways, as we've been discussing before this segment of the program. It can be in favor of the president. It can be in favor of any of the opposition. And it can be that there will be ordered to do a rerun and it will be ordered to do a rerun, whatever it is, it can go anywhere. But I'd like you to talk to Nigerians, because tensions are high. I'll start with you, Mohammed, to wrap it up. And then Abiyuddin show me also will wrap it up with his own statement. I think in my opinion, I will plead for, you know, judgment of civil Nigerians. It's a high time that we have judgment that will favor Nigerians. And I don't want to interpret what that means. But a judgment that will favor Nigerians, that will take Nigerians out of this dodger. You know, so it is very simple. But at the same time, again, I want to plead with Nigerians that whatsoever the, I mean, the decision of the Supreme Court is we have a country to build is very germane and important because there are so many things going here and going wrong in this country. So whatsoever the decision of the Supreme Court, we should take it in good faith. We should allow peace to reign and then join hands together. What are the opposition? I'm not saying perhaps a government of national unity, no, but at least we need constructive criticism by the opposition, not propaganda. Okay, lost the audio of Mohammed there. Mr. Show me, if you can hear me, I'd like also what you would advise Nigerians on this day. At least we're all in agreement that we have a country to protect and preserve. Whatever the situation might be, let there be peace and let Nigeria move forward. We believe in Nigeria. It's going to get better and better, no matter what the situation here right now is. I'd like to thank you gentlemen, Mr. Billoon Show me, political analyst for coming on the show. Thank you for having me. And Mr. Mohammed Abdulahi, also a public affairs analyst. Thank you for being a part of our show this morning. Thank you very much. My pleasure. Okay, this is where we wrap it up on the breakfast today on Kosti B Africa on behalf of the entire team. I say thank you for being there. My name is Nyamun Gould, I'll catch you. Let's do it again tomorrow.