 Welcome back to The Breakfast, and it's time for us to take a look at what some of the headlines are saying this morning. And we'll begin with the Punch Newspaper. The Punch Newspaper leaves with states paying governors jumbo pensions or three trillionaire debts with a rider. TUsu wants governors to pay workers' arrears, experts flay jumbo packages. On top of the mask, there you have 86 senators will support me, says Acpabio. Details of that you find inside the Punch Newspaper on page 18, operators demand tough sanctions as Nigeria loses 303 billionaire to oil thieves. You find details of that on page 25 of the Punch Newspaper. Why I rejected request to visit Tunibu by the George? Details of that is on page 14 of the Punch Newspaper, and that's the much I'll be taking from the Punch Newspaper. Away from the puncher, we'll move on next to the nation newspaper. The main headline for this morning, Tunibu is best prepared ever for President Sez Al-Qaude, where the rider, the expert, expect 50-year master plan from incoming administration what to do on economy. Above the mask head, senators reps for inauguration in makeshift chambers. Alright, and then MEC, that's the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission. Bazaar discourse from billion disconnected customers. Now it would act to a mafia for lobby passes on. Then just below the pictorial there, there is a story on rising full prices. Cash crunch, push inflation to 17-year high. The last story there, 60 senators have signed on for Acpabio. Barao says, those are the major stories on the nation newspaper this morning. Okay, from the nation newspaper, we'll move to the Guardian newspaper. Which is leading with 17 years after Paris Club relief, external debt rises to $41.8 billion. Details of that is on page 8. This I believe is an editorial of the Guardian today. And you go down a bit, you find amid criticisms, Acpabio Widen's consultations gets back in of 68 senators. Details of that is on page 6 of the Guardian newspaper. 2,518 Nigerians evacuated from Sudan says not come. Well, details of that is on page 3 of the Guardian newspaper. And then you have fuel subsidy. Suspend displacement of $800 million loan to Edgy's World Bank. Details is on page 3 of that. And then you have despite hike in Bill, Lagos Fields with Wasson. Details is on page 4. It's a special analysis on Lagos there on the Guardian newspaper. All right, the last paper we are looking at this morning is the nature on these. We have to protect our environment. All right, the Banner story for this morning, climate change concern over 2023 famine prediction. Farmers lament death of rain. There is rain today. Government moves to a developed food system transformation pathway. Then another story, man pledges support for green manufacturing. That's the manufacturers association of Nigerian man pledges support for green manufacturing. Then electricity, federal government to deploy 5 million solar power connectors to communities. Those are the main story. Then on the green strip there on the 17th Afghan. Yahya Lawali makes calf group phase a best 11. Those are the stories on the nature of news this Monday morning. And we have been joined by our analyst. Uncle Teria, a political affairs analyst joining us from River State. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning Nigerians. Good morning to you. How was your weekend? Good to have you join us again as always. I know you are spending a month at a party plant. Well, I am still alive. Thank God you are. Okay, let's just jump right into it. I am political system. I am still alive. Well, the party newspaper is leading with states who are paying them. State governors who are outgoing governors. Paying themselves jumbo pensions while the states are owing 3 trillion narrow debts. And TUC is warning the governors to pay workers arrears. Here they are paying themselves this huge amount of money as they are living. Maybe after 4 years or 8 years. Meanwhile, workers are being owed. Talk to us about this. How is this hitting you this morning? It's quite disheartening that governors these days are even on pension. You spend 4 years, max 8 years and you are being pensioned. Meanwhile, you are yet to pay those who have spent 35 years in office. Most of them are being owed 10 years, 15 years, 5 years spent on that. That goes to tell me that most of these governors are greatly insensitive and callous. I went somewhere where, I think, was it the Tarabas? Was it the Tarabas of which state? Tarabas. Is it Darius or Darius? That is Darius. Sorry? That's Tarabas, yes. Yes, I heard. Who recently spent billions buying SUVs for himself, his wife, his deputy and the deputy's wife. I understand he has come out to deny that. No. I understand he has come out to deny that. But whether he is telling the truth or not, he needs to be seen. He has come out to deny that. Okay. And why is this governor that he saw how many dollars in his pocket and still denied it? Is it pictures? He planned it and what? He still denied it and what happened? Well, probably because he has him in it. But the truth about it is that most of these governors are quite insistent. They are not bothered about the welfare of those in the government. They see it as an opportunity to lose the treasure. And for those that will now return to office, it is like the final routine. I have to steal. Most of them that could not even afford a car are today planning to buy jets. And they want to sustain that lifestyle, even out of office. The truth is if you don't invest, you cannot sustain it. Because before you know it, you must have placed your account. Because you want to sustain a particular lifestyle. Now to avoid that, they now got themselves pension. At the expense of those that they govern. You see them owing salaries. You see them owing gratuities. You see them owing pensions. Most of them did not invest in the last eight years. Most of them. Opponable. Opponable. This is not the first time that this is happening. I mean we've seen all the governors in the past who are locating themselves, these huge pensions. Yet, here we are, still talking about it. The lives of fashionally rejected people be rejected. But the others. But the others went ahead. How come would not be never... You can't use one brush. Okay, we are saying something. Yeah, I'm saying we keep, you know, kicking against these things in words, on television, on radio, on Nigerians. But nothing has been done to change it. The only thing that can be done to change it is by going to court to stop. Now for those that have been caught, you can prosecute them. There has to be a judicial pronouncement on this. They have to tell us that it is a matter of rights. Because if it's not a matter of rights and you're doing that to loot the treasure, then you should go in for it. But the sad aspect again is the state assembly must come up with the law. And you all know that the state assemblies are ministries of law making in the 21st century. They are not really house of assembly. They are not supreme temples. They are just ministries of law making. When the governor says, this is what I want, they say yes, that is what it was. And they prosecute them. And that's why most of us find that most of the state laws are almost like military decrees. It is whatever the governor says that the law makers do. So how do you really end it? Because they are sub-national. And to a very large extent, the state's assemblies are the ones that make the laws for the states. Unless it has to do with concurrent, as with the federal law. In which case the federal interest must be protected. So in the states, it should come up to say, they are going to come up to say, you are no governor's entire people. Even the issue of pensions and food, the governor's maneuver it through the state's assembly. And because the state assemblies are robber staff assemblies, I call them the list of law making in the 21st century. Whatever the governor says is what they do. So do you see this as having come to stay? Because as I asked, it's not changed. We've been crying about it. Until you have an estate where you don't have one party dominating the whole assembly, where you're going to have dissenting voices. Particularly if the members are not equal, they're not apart, talking about the legislature, because we just have one or two, just like the way the national assembly after inauguration will be. You look. Unless you have that, this will continue. Because before the governor buy this gas, they are going to tell you they must have gotten approval from the state's house of assembly. The assembly must have approved. So if the assembly should have approved that, how do they come in? They don't know why they do. That's why I said there has to be a judicial pronouncement on that. If there is a judicial pronouncement on that, then the hands of the house of assembly, the house of assembly members are fatter. So it has to look at the reverse where you cannot. There was an injunction. The most ridiculous injunction I've ever heard. Where you cannot investigate the accounts of the state. Have you ever heard that before? The reverse state account is insulated for prosecution and diversification. And the EOCC is just sitting there, doing nothing, chasing shadows of enemies. This is an issue. It is an issue. Because that is a cover-up for fraud. The matter is, Dr. Bito, who went to court on that? And of course, you know, no governor has got the talent. All the substances are going to be beneficial. All right, open up. No governor. All right, open up also. Somebody has to go to court. All right, so that we can do that. And do that he has to do that he has to face. All right. Because if I cut, you've got to appeal. You've got to supreme. All right. Let's just talk about the the circle of corruption in the state. But why are Nigeria not going to court? The idea of purchasing cars for themselves, you see, it's so callous. I can't imagine how you don't pay salaries, you don't pay pensioners, they are dying in their numbers. And you are sterling enough for the treasure already. And you are thinking of stealing more to spend it in. And you leave. And you want God to forgive you. I know that I sometimes I wonder because these these teams live longer stronger than you do you know so if the punishment will come after that then I will also become one because I don't know the after let me enjoy it. All right to open up but let's still stay with the punch newspaper. Another story that is trending and most people are talking about it it's on feeding. It's on the green strip there on the punch newspaper. Prisoners feeding states fault federal government seek new revenue formula. From what we hear the federal government says it spends about a million nara on each prisoner you know yearly Marin and I broke it down to about 83,000 nara monthly on March to be desired 83,000 nara per person monthly is that what you said 83,000 nara it says the federal government claims to spend one million on each prisoner but you know that's not true that's quite mendational the federal government cannot even spend 20,000 nara on one human being in this country that is just another need to send us somebody's pocket it's not possible it's too much to feed one person a prisoner that's what I'm saying if a civilized if you say tell me this is like I'll believe you because when you go to the prisons or correctional centers and you see the way they are being taken care of you will also be impressed because that is where it is actually a correctional center they are not there they just want you to adore those and bring you back to the society they are like titillates but in Nigeria they should not change the dementia is not the problem they are still prisoners and they are treated as such subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment and you say you are spending 80 something thousand nara for a few that's how they tell you of the principal PD that money is getting to do somebody's money have you been to the prisons if you are spending 80,000 nara per prisoner what of the structure you are yet to take the action so that it becomes habitable you are not even addressing that and you are saying on feeding you are spending 80,000 nara per prisoner that is the life from the pit of hell that money is getting into somebody's money I don't believe that it's a clear case of mendicillin if government cannot come and deceive us we are too intelligent for that so I don't even want to go into the truth is the figures mentioned that is the complete life it's not possible not even under this government school feeding how much did you say they were spending on the school today even when the schools were closed they were still spending on the school this government that has no trust last trust with mass drinking with the walls of interposition they say once in the morning and you are not even there I can tell you that's the amount people are the prisoners people are like prisoners are fed mostly by family members not by the government those that depend on the government who are criminals and the family members are ashamed of go and look at them go and look at them they look like people if a C class are worse than are better than them those of them are sicker than them those who suffer from AIDS are even better than them go and look at them they are spending how much you cannot pay you cannot pay the 35,000 35,000 minimum wage you have not paid then you are spending the C class how can you come and tell me that nonsense you must you must suffer from your civil service you have not paid your civil servants you are only but you are spending on prisoners and the salary of the civil servant is less than half of what you claim your spending on prisoners who are you telling them me who are you telling them me who are you telling them they have they have given the figures and I guess as it stands you either take it or leave it Nigerians either take it or leave it no no no the truth about it is that you don't swallow everything no you are when you swallow whatever oh pull up tell me you took what out of my mouth let me ask the question let me ask the question the question I am meant to ask is this so they have given out the figures it's either Nigerians take it or leave it should Nigerians not take it what should they do about these figures given to them that is that is where investigation this method comes that is where it comes that is why we have to hold the government accounting both in and out of this if this matter is investigated by professionals accountants if this matter is investigated they will be able to unearth the fraud and bring to book all those involved in that fraud and the ESCC should not share accessibility it should not be just to interrogate those that the government want them to interrogate these are these are the things they have come up with figures ESCC is aware of this IPC is aware IP is it IP ICPC is aware of this it's within the confidence of these agencies so what is expected of them is to investigate and bring all those involved to book because yes you will show the way up to judging but there are certain things you tell me and I don't even need to investigate or ask God you cannot come and tell me that you created Obnabo and I say yes you have said that I will show no house of truth in there you are not even able to pay a civil servant and you say it is 3,000 it is 2,000 around okay because you know that you cannot go to the prison to ask the question somebody is dead you are using that money to send us somebody you should invest in this place this place thank God the government is saying yes this is what they are spending so it's not a question of are you sure you are not sure now this body should be invested and bring to book all those involved in that form alright let's move to the headline let's move to one of the headlines including the precedent this is given because by that time you would have lost including the precedent let's move to the headlines on the Guardian newspaper which is 70 years after Paris club relief external debt rises to 41.8 billion dollars what's your take on this issue of Nigeria's debt this issue of Nigeria's debt rising debt I don't know price what it comes that goes for 800 million dollars we are not finished don't be surprised another one will come again this time around it will be inauguration loans for inauguration or whatever they are going the government that criticizes the sorry the genitans government most is this present government there was nothing they did not say against genitans government but they sound worse than the genitans I'm not a genitan a genitan or the hero in the land how much they are almost triple genitans left and why they're boring they're boring to build buildings bring in trains do that now the trains are not working anymore and don't forget you're paying for because it's a contract you're paying every day for those services whether you use them or not it's like a plane at the airport you'll build your boring money even when we spot our crew to import refined products and look at how much has been put into the NNPC since 2015 to date that's a loop and this was this was the final term around in six months or one year you're spending maybe you're paying workers you're the workers are the bankers your bankers are the executive the security men are there the station is all kinds of things the only thing that I've got working there is the town but you're paying for every other service you're still employing how rudderless are the government and you're boring you're not boring you're boring to sustain your frivolous lifestyle you're travelling abroad look at the number of people you travel out to collect the cigars put them together and you realize how much we waste on daily basis meanwhile there is no commensurate service every time we are boring we started with trade we entered a play we entered all kinds of things and was it for the group to take your group out refining other countries and pay a gate to bring the group and now we are going for diesel for 1,000 Naira per litre 800 Naira per litre depending on where you are so what is the goal? let's move on to the next the goal but the most annoying thing is that most of you borrow for these less reasons and that's how we do have the effect if we practice socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor if people borrow those in fact and not borrow to empower themselves and the poor masses suffer the problem open up open up this issue of our refiner is not working in spite of the huge sums of money allocated annually for turnaround maintenance which you have alluded to do you ever see this narrative changing because this is one of the reasons why those who are kicking against subsidy are saying that it is nothing but an organized crime against Nigerians you never see this narrative of us not having working refineries as a country ever changing thank you thank you thank you very good question it will not unless you have somebody that sincerely wants to live wants to serve it has to do with the present it's a cutter but you see the president if he really wants to cross that cutter he can but most times their hands are tied because when you are contesting this same cutter will approach you and give you money so even before you are sworn in tested for example you have about ten persons three persons contest no ten they wait for they watch out for about three strong or three strong content and they are pushed this is our support it happens when you get into office your hands are tied but you also have somebody that say no I don't need your support thank you or fine give me your support like what they do in most of this Italian country in Italy give me your support you get in there it's all over that's what I'd like to want a government in America the debt of a government in America where he agreed with some of those things when he got into office he said no I'm not that adamant of course eventually he was killed in the 60s he was killed so it depends on the individual and most times you surround yourself with criminals because those criminals are the ones that a debut that assisted you to succeed and before they came to you before they agreed to work for you certain agreements you know accommodation was reached if I get in there this is what will happen if I get it look at imagine what the first lady said he said every time they vote for presidential they are so villa they do yet there is no medal there it's a cutter yet they vote she said it she said it so for the refineries to work the president must be sincere and must be willing if a person of will must be willing to say this refinery must work once you have the president that wants the refineries to work this is in charge this is evidence to be passed to us at this table he has the information that nobody will have but that's for my president for the new ones he's the only one that has certain information all he needs to do is give another that's all I want this thing done I need to be done but if the president is also complicit maybe not because he's jacking money from them but because of the way they play he means quiet inertia sexy it's not that I would tell you that I'm not the first let me go like let me go let me go and ask the question are you tired are you laid to be clear why did you hand over to us about since one year I'm tired why did you hand over to I do some level of sanity for one year I want to go I want to do I want to do I want to do I want to do for sake of time let's look at Senate leadership and all of that on the guardia and the way it was aptly in here. Amid criticisms, a Fabio Wyden's consultations gets back in of 68 senators. Does this surprise you? No, that's it. You can't take away Fabio's political sadacity, and it's good much. The guy's good. In one man I admire, so to speak, politics. I am only angry with him that, to me, well the court has said, but to me, he stole someone. He's not supposed to be. He stole a woman. Say that again. He did what? He denied it. I know so he's still in that man. I said, because how did he imagine? How did he? He was in court. I said, well the court said fine. Eventually they had the consideration with the man. No problem. But it was an assumption. The law said you cannot sign to nomination form. You sign the presidential and sign the senatorial. How? That's called a speedy speed. That's my only anger. If they went to court, they won a court of first sister. Then eventually, that's as I said, it's a political attack. He reconciled with the first, the administration. That's one thing I don't like. Aside from that, this one man I like. You like him? Yes. No, I like him. I like him. What do you say to those who... What do you say to those who... He loves you. He hates you. Yes? What do you say to those who... What do you say to Nigerians who are saying that he has a man who has cases to answer with the EFCC should not even be considering such a position? Until it is substantiated. Those might be enemies or they might be right as well. But until it is substantiated is innocent. That's the adversarial system practice we have here. Until it is substantiated. Because they can even come to you. They can come to you. There's politics in Nigeria. Just like what you do. There are many things to say on Facebook. So now, let me quickly respond to the issue of... These chances of imagining a Senate president. They are quite high. Although, I would have wanted that seat to go to Southeast, not just South. Southeast in the interest of fairness and justice. The North, the South West, the North, right? Then the South East should take. Or they give the South East the speakership. That might pacify them. But considering the tension, this issue of sedugation is created. I think they don't give it to the South East. Because the presidency ought to have come from the South East. That's the truth. Now, I probably have that ability to ask what it takes to convince people. The ability there is a good talker. He has to do what I like it or not. Money will be spent on this. He has to do it. Of course, you can say that what money cannot serve. More money can serve. In fact, I am telling you the primary thing will be the money before the other qualities. And because he is being chosen from the Tinnable's camp, of course, you should know that that will not be a problem at all. Even a Piper himself can do that. So, becoming a senator, I'm not going to worry, is that he's going to be a senator like Okadibo, a senator like Bukala Saraki, and not this late documental senator, senator of Lawan, who also stole the tickets. I don't want that Lawan. This night's assembly, kind of assembly, God forbid, he's the worst in the history of this country. God forbid, let me find the history of that kind of assembly. Never! Yes, sir. And the president himself, who said this in the president, that we are not here to fight, we are in whatever the president says we will do. Shame. Open up. Time will not allow us to continue without the press. We can't go beyond this point at this time today. But thank you so much, as always, for joining us on the press. God bless Nigeria. Yes. I joined you. God help Nigeria. After the help, we'll go to bless. Niger's help. God help Nigeria. After the help, we'll go to bless. Thank you very much. Thank you, Opinapa. Have a great day. Thank you. Well, you're still watching The Breakfast. We'll take a short break and come back to look at our very first hot topic. Stay with us.