 The presidency responds to Sunday's editorial of the Daily Trust newspaper on the widespread insecurity in the country, saying violence is not peculiar to Nigeria. And the People's Democratic Party PDP expresses this pleasure as Governor Kiridolua points his son as Director-General of the State Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit. Well, this is Plus Politics. I am Mary Anacol. In a strong editorial two days ago, Daily Trust newspaper lamented the insecurity in the country. It highlighted the recent 23 travellers heading to Kaduna who were burned alive in a commercial bus at Sabon-Bernie-Sakota State and other incidents in the North. It accused the president of his and his team of an unwillingness and disinterest to show some concern about these tragic events. And a former president, Ulushagon Abasanjo, is in the news once again, ladies and gentlemen. And in this time, he has said that he's expecting Mr. President to do anything more than what he has done is akin to beating a dead horse. Abasanjo said that military action alone would not effectively end the insurgency in the country. He said the stick-and-carrot approach should be used to tackle security challenges. Joining us to discuss this is Opunabor Incotara, former special adviser on media and publicity to the Reaver State Governor, and of course Alesta Wilcox, who is a political analyst, and Francis Chilaca, who's also a political analyst. Thank you very much, gentlemen, for joining us on the show. Thank you, and good evening, ladies and gentlemen. All right, I'm going to start with you, Opunabor. Let's look at the editorial by the Daily Trust newspaper. The first shocker, of course, is that the Daily Trust had to write this. This is a newspaper that many people would say that does not necessarily go into things such as this. Let's look at the veracity of the claims that are in that particular publication against Mr. President and what they thought. In fact, the title of that publication was that, I'm going to put it differently, that there is no value to the average life of a Nigerian. Do you think that the Daily Trust newspaper went a bit too overboard with this publication? Well, not at all. I mean, I think the Daily Trust newspaper was apt in this editorial, because that lives are being treated with levity by this government, it's not in doubt. First, take, for example, the death and burial of the chief formatipopamister who died in the 19th century. While he was in death without the print of conscience, Mr. President and members of his council attended the wedding of the Honourable Attorney General and Minister for Justice. That's a statement we are talking about, bandit, make a barbecue of Nigeria in the north. And the President is attending a book launch which, to me, is completely unnecessary. He would have sent a representative if he considered that book launch extremely important. And so I think the Daily Trust newspaper was apt. It is internal, it is quite, I mean, if the President's son or child was involved in any of this killing, a victim of any of this killing, they are visited. That's why they say he's insensitive. As the President of the nation, it is expected that every Nigeria, if his child, a member of his household, and should be so treated, a situation where you're feeling different, you come up with high blood pressure of the second letter, it's, oh, we are doing this, we are doing that, we are doing that, and an anemone of performance, country's performance. Nothing so far has been achieved in the war against banditry, in the war against terrorists. Can you really, can you really say, I'm sorry to speak over you, can you really say that nothing really has been done in the fight against insecurity and terrorism in the country? The flag, the flag of the present government is receiving, it's just 10 percent of what it gave to the genitals and ministries, just 10 percent. Mr. President himself denied the protest, but unfortunately we have a government that is impervious to criticism, I don't see any reason why Mr. Gabbashou wants to react to such a thing, with such uncompromising words. Mr. President, if they see dangerous enemies in different areas, every time you have a dissenting view, they believe that you're coming after them, you hate them, that should not be the approach. A government should welcome criticism, when the criticisms are constructive, and it is normal. Because if Mr. President had visited somebody in the hospital or gone to Lagos for something culture that is of national interest, yes, one can understand. Nothing happened, no comment, you're silent on it, and you're in Lagos, and telling a book run, something as insignificant and as trivial as it is, a book run, so that's the height of insensitivity. Okay. If judges of the study found us, what happened to the super panist, that put that in, actually serve it. So that's why they say lives have been treated with levity, it doesn't, you're not bothered at all. It's not fair, it's not proper. And we should say the truth, to far, it's highly condemnable, highly condemnable. To that sense, even the vice president, to that sense, the minister to the president. What's so special about that book run? What's so special about that, telling the wedding of your minister, your COS, is about to be buried. Okay. That's kind of, that's the height of insensitivity. Let me bring Alesta in. Alesta, what is the value of the average Nigerian person's life in this country, compared to any other person, compared to an outsider or even an expatriate, you know, who somewhat falls to the hands of these same kinds of bandits or terrorists? Again, Abbas seems to be harping on the fact that Mr. President attended his son's wedding when something happened in a part of the country. Many other people have criticized Mr. President for coming to Lagos state, while a different state was experiencing terrorism and there were victims to that effect. But let's start from the value that we place on the average Nigerian life. For example, I'm asking this, if one American, for example, had been scoped away or abducted by militants, it would take the American government would do everything in their power to get that Nigerian out. Now, let's paint a picture of what has happened to two Nigerians lately outside this country, especially the young lady that died in Tunu and how the government responded and of course the fact that it's still an issue that somewhat might soon be swept under the carpet. Does that paint a picture of how the Abfaid Nigerian is being viewed in his country and outside the country? Why would anybody outside Nigeria want to place value on our lives? I'm trying to ask a question. Let me just ask the last question. Would anybody, hold on. Alistair, you're going to let me ask the question so you can answer. I'm asking a question. Alistair, are you going to be rude, please? I'm asking a question. Would anybody outside this country place value on our lives, depending on how we're being treated in this country? I'm asking. I don't, I don't understand. What is the value of the Abfaid Nigerian lives? I don't understand the book you've written. We respect your question. I believe that nobody will, yes, we all complain about how we are treated in this country in terms of talking about value. I would say that from timing memorial, Nigerians have not had a fair deal. I've not had a fair deal. I'm surprised my brother is talking about the criticism of Jonathan being the base up on which today, anybody that wants to talk about where they say, oh, he criticized Jonathan, or he criticized PDP. Well, I don't think this is a bad thing. We have to question directly without going to other things. We've not had a good deal in Nigeria with respect to the lives of every Nigerian. We've not had a situation where Nigerians are arrested abroad and the government sent troops to go and rescue. We've not had that, we've not had that history. Rise from in-time memorial. It didn't start today. We've not had that history. We cannot even have what such asset. You're talking about Americans sending troops to go and rescue their citizens from areas. Nigeria don't have that kind of capability. We don't have the capability. We don't have that asset that America can deploy. We don't have it. So it's not to say we should not have tried. Yeah, we should have tried. But unfortunately, we are not there. And of course, every day, the issues of puns, the issues of population explosion, the issues of various kinds of crime begin to make it difficult. Now, directly to what is the point of the matter today, I don't think it's going to be charitable for anybody to say because Jonathan was criticized or because PDP government was criticized. Therefore, nobody sees anything positive in what has happened in this country. Well, everybody has his right to his own opinion. And I think in fairness to every government, the challenges are always in time. Whenever in time, when in Potakot, where in Kotaraya is, or where it used to be, you can't go out after 6 o'clock. There was a time like that in Potakot. I'm from Riverside too. There was a time in Potakot that all the clubs closed down. There was no nice club, no nice life in Potakot. There was a time. And there was a time when the bombs were going up, up to the point of bumping the work quality, the U.N. building and other strategic targets. It happened in this country. There was a time in Nigeria that economic football club does not play much in Boronu, in Medugri. But they play in cities, they've been playing in Medugri. So to say nothing has happened. It just happened in the main culture of our system, of our problem, keep evolving and keep changing as much as in a very rapid form. And I'm not going to say that nobody's doing anything. The military is paying a high price. The military is paying a high price, and we don't recognize that price. Everyone's attacked the president, as if he's the one that carries the gun and stands on the road or goes to the bush. The military, which is me and you, which is our national pride, are every day on the street in the bush, in the forest, trying to keep us safe. Because we want to criticize the president, we want to attack the president because he was criticized, because the president was criticized. We don't recognize those circumstances that they are making. Today, every time that there was a pre-nose to either the bandits or to the Bukua ramp, we don't report it. It's not news. But when there is an attack on another military formation or civilians, that becomes a white news. Are we not finding the embass of the soldiers who think they are winning the war? All right, Alistair. I just want to quickly come in there. So you're saying to us that this is not a... Hold on. Are you trying to tell us that this is not a Bahá'í problem? You're saying that this is a Nigerian problem. It's not a leadership problem. It's a people problem. It's that way you're coming from. Again, what most people, especially the Daily Trust newspaper is harping on is the level of insensitivity that they think is coming from Mr. President and, of course, members of his... Or rather, his handlers in terms of the issues or the outcome or the aftermath of all of these issues of terrorism that are happening in the different parts of the country. What do you have to say about that? I'm sorry, Mr. Tarion. This question is for Alistair. I totally reject that connotation. That the President must visit every locality and let everything took place. Can he say, state governor? Has he visited every locality that anything happened? Now, the President, yes, by virtue of the fact that he's the President, must always come out to make statements. But this is becoming too many. Will he visit every locality? So you're saying that because it's happening too many times, so the President should just not bother because these lives that are being lost are not as important anymore. So the President should pay no attention to it. Is that it? Don't put what's in my mouth, not that. Don't put what's in my mouth, not that. I want to read between the lines as to what I'm saying. I'll try not to. I'll try to take every word that you say. If tomorrow there is an incident, unfortunately, or let's put it this way, the President should go there. If tomorrow there is one at the bar, the President should go there. No, it doesn't work that way. Presidential movements. I don't work in the presidency. My friend Kotari has worked in government, so he knows protocols. So presidential movements cannot just be since you just do it at the whip of hands. There are things that you do with a lot of fast planning, with advanced planning. Not to say that I am also not in favor of the fact that silence should be consumed. But you can see that since the President came in, the military has been so fortified, equipment have provided a lot of resources that has gone in for the same purpose. So if the result has not matched our expectation, which I believe many Agilents have not, have not agreed on the result, not me of the clue that this practical has not been done. Even far more than what has happened before, what was on ground before, was a just little, was a just little, and I'm sure my friend Kotari can confirm this. All right. Before we go back to Mr. Tari, let's go to Francis. Francis, I know that you have a lot to say about this, but let's just go, I have a question. The first reaction that we hear on this Daily Trust Matters that the editor was arrested, by the way, on whose order were yet to understand. Now, of course, the federal government has reacted to the issue, and they're saying that, you know, inter-currency and terrorism is not necessarily a Nigerian problem. It's happening all across Africa. But why is Nigeria not dealing with Nigeria's problems the way it should? We're still talking on the issue of insensitivity here. The reaction of the federal government, the arrest of the editor of the Daily Trust for doing his job, these are questions that are begging for answers. What are your thoughts? Mr. Tari, we're talking about what has made up between Presidency and Daily Trust. Is there any sense of how society has turned out to be? Where does it power? I believe that... Francis, can you turn off the fan or whatever is making the noise there, please? Because it's not letting us hear you. Is it done? Okay, so let's quickly go back. Okay, Francis, I think you're back. Go ahead. I was saying, I said the thing is we seem to have a leadership pattern, not only with the Presidency, but a leadership pattern in Nigeria where those in power believe that the people have no right to question their actions. And this boils down to lack of accountability, corruption, and bad governance. You see, today in Nigeria we have two heads we're fighting with. On one hand we have Mr. President, on the other hand we have the Presidency. And I will say this, I have taken time to read the editorial and I've taken time to read the response of the government and I will say that this government has found joy in attacking anyone that comes out to criticize the way she has handled the issue of insecurity in the land. If you're on social media, you'll observe that right now there's something called hashtag secure North the youth are coming out they are complaining, they are agitating they are saying that if the President is from the North the Attorney General is from the North the Chief of Army Service is from the North the Chief of Naval Service is from the North the SS is from the North and all these people are from the North and yet the North is not secure they have come out bluntly to the President if you cannot seek our lives and purposes resign. Why have they not been arrested? Why must it be because editorial was written which is not far fetched from what these youths are saying the insecurity in the land is worrisome the Nigerian life has no value as far as those in government are concerned it's not only in the North it's all across the entire country so anybody who sits down to tell me we cannot compare this government with Jonathan we cannot look at the bombs we are going up I think it's just been a sensitive to the point of Nigerians the only sense why we have a President and those who have elected into power is for them to use the machinery of government to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and if they fail to do this they have no right to remain there as leaders but can we really say that the President has failed because I've asked this question many times when people come and say the President has failed has he really failed the President has spoken on these issues over and over again he has changed his security chiefs at some point were angling for that and that had been done he at some point relocated certain people to where it was really hot the areas where Banditry and Boko Haram were hot he did do that he declared some areas of no-fly zone so can you really say the Presidency or the President has failed in fighting insecurity or is there still room for something to happen is there something that needs to be done that the Presidency is not seeing I'm trying here to balance this conversation I understand today as Nigerians this Presidency has failed but the question which is begging for an answer is why isn't that the Presidency is finding it difficult to publish the names of those who are sponsoring this insecurity what is the problem in publishing their names? why is it that the CBN opt-in has not published the names of the accounts owners that were used to london money for insecurity so these are questions that the Presidency should answer and these are questions when these questions are addressed and made public I am telling you half of the issue of insecurity would have been solved you cannot be putting people creating problems killing people, creating mayhem you cannot be putting them at the back each time we hear that all they are repenting Boko Haram they are repenting to Headsmen what kind of repentance are we talking about you as something wrong and has repented what happens to the person that has been affected what happens to the family of the people that have killed it's more like saying that the government is being sensitive to the plight of Nigerians yes that the value there is no value placed on the Nigerian life no value at all back to you a house a group just like Francis Chilaka has called for the resignation of Mr President they are saying that the President keeps on sparing full of bandits going after Kano, Namdi Kano and Sunday Boko again another group of people the Human Rights Rights Association of Nigeria had also said that Mr President should either resign or be impeached by the National Assembly being that he lacked the capacity to protect Nigerians is the President not able to protect us is it the President's problem that we are not as safe as we should be what about the Governors in the different states well that before I go into that let me quickly summarize the issue of the Kano and the bandits of course there is a clear case of discrimination can you hear me? I can hear you clear case of discrimination and change discrimination that is what we have there and in response to what my brother said I said that this President's administration has not received a 10% of what it gave to Jonathan's administration I did not compare the Jonathan's administration the performance of Jonathan's administration with yesterday what we are making is that Jonathan was tolerant but this is a government that sees dangerous enemies in different states behind every decent or how do you justify the arrest and detention of the editor it is absolutely ridiculous why would you want to arrest him you did worse on that Jonathan that is the point I am making in terms of criticism so when people criticize him he is most upset if they complain that is why you are there and secondly Mr President Mr President Mr President Mr President if anything happens he is as guilty as those perpetrating the crime because he is most upset if he is not competent to overwhelm the situation then let him resign now I will tell you one thing again those who succeeded and some of these chiefs accused them of corruption they said they did not purchase the al-Qaeda administration that they were at the moment they are looking for the president people of defense are saying that they are saying that that is the two of the points so why would you criticize the government and why would you be a Mr President can I remove the service team can the government remove the service team who remove the service team the four points are who the appointed Mr President the worst of it today as a prostitute goes down it is the air that will be accused I am not giving you Mary-Anne not at all let's just take that cake I haven't said that sorry you asked go ahead sorry I haven't said that you asked a question if Mr President has done enough or some people are so busy that was your question in addressing the situation was that your question now those like my brother he has not done enough because they have been treated to gloves initially they told us I said we are tired of the high workers of this type of workers you told us that you are going to disclose the identities of this bandit the next thing we have you are granting amnesty you said they are not anything they have done their sins therefore you are going to grant amnesty most of these things this amnesty you are talking about raising to the house what are the penalties for the crimes committed what are the deterrents to others and the cabinet said he will never grant amnesty because he was granted amnesty and they went back to the church he is a recidivist this issue of amnesty this issue of perpetrators is because there are people called in criminal justice of neutralization they want that prison reduced so they are coming out and again they are coming out to re-strategize the prison on them the prison's military is trying amnesty is not right but then do they even have what it takes to contain this character's mood they are going to provide this miscarriage because we do not have too much time but we start to question them so you cannot just keep going we should be able to have justice in it we do not have too much time so I want to quickly go to thank you Mr. Tariah because we really have very little time I want to quickly go to Alesta and Francis before we wrap things up Alesta what needs to be done this is a question I am sure you get asked all the time what do you think needs to be done to first change the body language because that is a word that we throw around every time Mr. President which is being read by a lot of people as insensitive like I said the army of course has been asked to do a job which they are doing there is a lot that needs to be done but what is that thing that Mr. President needs to do to regain the confidence of the average Nigerian in terms of keeping us safe as a country I appreciate both of my brothers and I can see the pattern his voice but just smile and laugh it is good my brother keep it up the President we know from the time he took coffee he is a man of few words he doesn't talk he is a man of few words his actions are always shown he is a man that have reinvented the military in military there was so much that had so much to do back of equipment they were running from the enemy and the President came in and reinvigorated the military looked at the air force and equipped them modern gadgets have been brought in new aircraft and the heat in fact Shakao is gone most of the commanders are gone they say he is doing nothing go to the office Alistair I didn't ask for a scorecard from Mr. President I am asking what does the President need to do now to regain the confidence of the average Nigerian that he is indeed fighting for us to be safe and secure we are not politicizing this issue I don't need to hear the politicization of this issue what needs to be done quickly open up please let him speak thank you very much I don't even know the President Mr. Tara please let him speak when you are speaking you are allowed to speak the Army our military which is the pride of our nation we must keep encouraging them we must support them that is all we need to do the President the best he can do is to give the directive is to provide equipment which is real yes there is a big group the biggest room in the world is the room of improvement there is a room to improve more to bring our military to the 21st century military to get more equipment in line with the France availability that is what you will do so the military must be encouraged through the press the activities that they are against must be broadcast just like their losses are being broadcast they are against must be broadcast because that is the only pride we have the military we don't have another pride in this country it is the military and so the military that is taking the heat paying the supreme price to keep us safe and every day we will come we will hand pass because we want to get to the President as for me it is uncharitable it is unpatrotic and the least to say and up front to the military and go to the enemy we don't have time Alistair let's quickly go to Francis Alistair seems to be saying that the President the best the President can do is encourage the military I do not know if that is all is the President's best according to him good enough to secure us as don't forget we are in the Utah season a lot of people are scared to travel home because of one issue or the other and that is not even just related to the issue of banditry this kidnapping every other day and it seems to be a potpourri of issues every single place is experiencing one form of insecurity at the other and some form of mayhem is the President's best good enough or is there anything else that the President needs to do again the same question to boost the confidence of the average Nigerian because we see a lot of people running away from the country because they feel that they would rather be safe in another country other than the country that should be theirs well in all sincerity and I've said it several before the President has not done enough in securing the lives of the unmarried Nigerians it is one thing to buy all the ammunitions how fortified and how qualified are those and how have you taken care of those who would use these ammunitions so if the other day if you take the other day you saw the IG complain about where the policemen leave and all of that these are same men who are meant to take care of you and I the same policemen who are meant to take care of you and I have been turned into bodyguards by politicians so this President needs to stand his ground withdraw everybody attached to an individual every policeman that is attached to an individual should be withdrawn the soldiers that are walking around the street controlling traffic should be withdrawn put people strategically where they ought to be you have about 80 checkpoints from Shagamu down to the east what are these checkpoints for okay are we getting some so let us be very proactive move people move the forces to where you need them most at every point in time there are too many policemen too many soldiers doing nothing anybody that is not doing what they are supposed to do the President should throw that person out the President should avoid nepotism let us become patriotic patrioticism is what is lacking in our country today there is no patriotism materialism has become the pain of our life system we need to throw that away we need to wake up, we need to begin to think it is not for us to sit down and begin to say the President has not done that but the ordinary Nigerians cannot defend themselves they do not have the ask they do not have anything to defend themselves it is the job of the military that is what they are paid for they are paid with the taxes of the Nigerian people so it must be utilised well and ensure that they are kept where they are needed most we have to go thank you very much Francis Chilaka Alesta Wilcox who is an analyst and of course former special advisor on media and publicity to the governor of the river state thank you very much gentlemen for being part of the conversation we can only hope for the best thank you for having me well thank you all for staying with us when we return we will be discussing the response of the people's democratic party PDP to the appointment of the son of the governor as the director general stay with us