 As Delta State Governor Fianna Koa is unveiled as Artiku Abubaka's running mate, the former vice president gives his reasons for his selection. And Northern Group urges Morik and Cannes to form their own political party. This is Plus Politics, I am Mary Anaconda. The presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party PDP Artiku Abubaka has given reasons for picking Delta State Governor Fianna Koa as his running mate for the 2023 presidential elections. He gave the reasons in his remarks at the unveiling of Okowa as his running mate at the PDP National Headquarters in Abuja. Okowa and his River State counterpart Tania Samuike wear the two governors speculated to be considered for the slot. Joining us to discuss these are political analysts, Dayo Kaede and Uppunabo Inkoutara. Thank you so much gentlemen for joining us. Good evening Mary Ananda, Nigerians. All right, great. I'll start with Uppunabo. Governor Inkoutara, we get him to be the touted one at the time. He seemed to be the one that was on everybody's lips as to who could be the favored vice presidential candidate. In fact, up until the moment where the governor of Delta State was announced, lots of people believed that it would be Yesamuike. But then of course Governor Okowa emerged as the running mate for Vice President Artiku Abubaka and I'm wondering of course the question in everybody's mind is, was this a strategic move or was this an election winning move? Mary Ananda, in the choice of a vice presidential candidate, the Secretary of State is given to a whole lot of issues. The capacity, the personnel, the rich, of course, let me talk about capacity, I'm talking about financial, I'm talking about legitimacy which is acceptability, we are talking about rich, we are talking about somebody that will add value to the presidency and to the campaign. First before the presidency is eventually the win and the pop-up in your elections. So you have the momentum of issues by being taken under advisement and the presidential candidate will definitely want somebody that he can confide in, somebody that will be because your vice president ought to be likened to your wife, somebody that you are comfortable with, that is what you call compatibility, you know, somebody that even when you are out of the country, your mind is at rest that nothing untoward will happen. This is a whole lot of issues, some are cited by the group, some will not be set on air but they are actually being considered in the choice of a vice president of a running mate. I remember one of the governors, somebody, a former president said to him, I want Mr. A. to be a deputy governor and the governor said no, there is a likelihood that Mr. A will be to kill me because my deputy governor has to take over. So there are so many considerations, so many considerations in the choice of a deputy of a running mate. And I think all of these issues would have been considered, most of them would have been considered and they may start to go out like they are going to go out to people, so the president will be quite comfortable with his or her. Mr. Coyote, let's look at the fact that, let's look at the notoriety between these men. In fact, at some point, the governor of Aqaibom state seemed to have been in the mix. You know, he was called as one of the people that was approved by the national working committee and so we had Anokowa, Inesongwike and probably the Udom Emmanuel. But then in terms of strategy of weaning, knowing that the 2023 elections is going to be a very interesting one and of course the best man has to win and then it means that the parties have to, you know, have strategic moves that are measures in place to win this election. So looking at the spread of Gov. Wike and Gov. Kowa, between these two gentlemen, wouldn't Wike be a better person to run in terms of reaching all the way across the country? But again, I just want you to tell me what you think the difference between Aqowa and Wike is and why you think he was the best choice for the vice president. It's really when you are trying to compare people for a particular position, whoever could be penciled down must have shown some kind of dignity to be able to hold onto that position. What I'm trying to say is that no doubt the parties, both Wike and Okowa, are both qualified to occupy the position of running names to Excellency Akiko Abubaka. But either we like it or not, one person will have to be chosen. And in choosing one out of these two names is mentioned. The PDP leadership in their own wisdom set up a committee to try as much as possible to interrogate. Not even only Wike and Okowa, but I think about four or five people. But one way or the other, there will be a little thing that will be standing somebody out. And between you and me, that is in the area of technical know-how, technical know-how. Abubaka Akiko is a politician to recall. Wike is a politician to recall. But when you look at the antecedent and political trajectory of Isiangi Okowa, you find out that he is a technocrat. Very in the mind that even the president, I mean, the flag diara of PDP in person of Excellency Akubaka Akiko, when he was the vice-president to Babawa Paso Yode, he was instrumental to bringing in a lot of technocrats into that government. In person of people like Okoujo Uweala, you know where Okoujo Uweala is now. In the person of people like Zequizine and all that. So, he himself, I mean, Akiko is looking for somebody who in future can even stand up to say yes, I want to be the next president. And as a vice-president, he must be able to stand in whenever the president is outside of the country. That is one too. When you also look at the kind of body-composture of Isiangi Okowa, you find out that he has a kind of re-resentment to that of Akiko Akubaka. So, to a very large extent, you can see the way you can be able to predict if eventually the two of them occupy that position in Asuro, one will now be able to foresee the kind of government that we are going to have. And again, when you also look at national cohesion and then balancing of the political equation in Nigeria towards winning elections. Because every other party exists to win elections. And there is no flagra at this point that we want to lose this election. So, you want to look at somebody that will be having very high electoral value. You want to see that Okowa, Okowa, are before now being in the legislature. Being in the national legislature, that means he has that flagra outlook already. He must have made a lot of in-route into people that are also having electoral value within their constituencies in the nation. So, these are parts of the things that were being considered to now be able to come up with if they are in Okowa as a running way to Asiku. Let me go back to Upunabo. Upunabo, let's talk about the fact that many have seen the position of vice president as a yes position. And just like Mr. Kairi had said, Okowa seems to have the same kind of demeanor according to him as to that of the former vice president. But then going beyond the demeanor here, we're talking about winning elections. Is this a winning team? Because we're yet to hear the announcement of other political parties and their running mates. We're talking about the APC, we're talking about the Labour Party, we're talking about the NNPP and others. Today is supposedly the deadline. Does this look like a winning team to you? And if this is, go ahead. The other political party is still floundering in the election process and I don't know what. And I think, I'm talking about the APC and I think that is mainly because the standard there is a Muslim and from the South. So you need a Christian from the North. And that's why they're every morning the Muslim-Muslim candidates. Because you need somebody from the North to balance the political equation and to also get more votes. Now, let's get back to the question you asked as the issue of Okowa. I thought you were talking of the political strength or the value is going to add. Am I right? Yes. Good. Now, don't forget that, first and foremost, you need somebody, let me go back to why you want to vote. You need somebody with a near-inspectable, conscious public persona and Okowa fits in. Now, Okowa and we here have this running battle with his brother government. Don't forget that if you remember when PTOB visited the Philippine headquarter to declare his intentions or what the PTOB is for. Iyoki, I'm sorry. I like you because your address issues are not attacked persons. That was an innuendo. He's having a running battle. And don't forget that this government, whether you like it or not, has a say. I swear the Philippine government has a say in who will be a running man. Although I think we have the final say. But definitely they will be consulted. And you are having issues. Even the Philippine government has made some smart comments against Iyoki. And do you think that they have consigned those issues into oblivion? They have not. And they want somebody that will be presidential in nature. Not aggressive, not grass. So you're saying that the governor of river state doesn't have a presidential demeanor and you're also saying that he's abusive? That is a general perception. Yeah, they say, oh, he's bold, he's big. For your choice of words. Your choice of words. There are certain opposites you occupy that all eyes must be on you. Okay, look at you go to church and say, on that fire you. Those are not the kind of things that you cover from the mouth of the cosmos. That's all. You are saying this particular height and you choose your words. Like we say in communication, the right words from the word basket. Because that will, they're very likely to define who you are, define your character. You know, so a whole lot of issues. Even if they are thinking of themselves. I think we will not come out and say, oh, this man said this against me. Therefore not selecting because the whole world will condemn him for being myopic. They need to also talk of the rich. Okawa has the rich. Is it because he did not come to us today? We also have to know, we can have the good grass fruit. Because he contested. Okawa does not contest. Stop the story. You don't have the rich. The only way to breathe between the south and the east is an Igbo man in Delta state. He is an Igbo. He is of Igbo origin. In Delta state. It's like a calamari man. You have the calamari in Naboruma. You have the calamari in Bukuma. You have the calamari in Jegeba. So to a very large extent Okawa has also placated the east. To some extent. If you talk of the rich. If you look at his demeanor. So you cannot say oh, when you talk of the political rich. We can have more. Langer. No, it's not possible. We can have this side of we can because he contested. If Okawa had contested. Of course we don't know what would have happened as well. You know, so these are some of the issues that the presidential flag bearer would have. And again. The lieutenant's advisers friends and so on. Would have the most of them because look for you to imagine. They are not the unique selling point. Yes, you are all qualified. But what is that unique selling point? That A has and the other lack. That is the truth about it. And that is what has happened. They have considered all this before settling for Okawa. And of course, when we talk about like kind of the right thing to say. He was a legislator. He was a governor. I don't know the commissioners because of course that has to be state. But he has friends across across. Okay. So the man of Okawa is somebody that is being appreciated by majority. He has no issues with his brother governments. No. So it is easy for the governor governments to shut up both the Okawa and the Okawa nautical ticket. Because he has no issues with that. No running battle. No fiction. The deputy committee definitely would have considered a whole lot of it. Even though they are not commoners to say. They definitely would have considered a whole lot of it. Before settling for Okawa. Okay. Let me come back to you Mr. Kaede. Interestingly, just as Okawa has said. He has some political strength around the border states. Do you see an Okawa able to split? Because we also see, let's not forget that we have a Pitao Bi who is a core south-easterner. And he and Uppunabon made a case of him being able to convince the border states to vote for the Atiku Okawa ticket. How easy will it be for this duo to break even in the south-south and the southeast? Not necessarily the southwest. Because we also know that there is a Tinubu who is from the southwest. But how powerful will these duo be in breaking even majorly within the south? Let me quickly explain this. The USP for somebody like Pitao Bi is that the youth are saying it's youthful. And they are looking at its economic acumen. Do you know that even if you have to look at that. Okawa is even more youthful than Pitao Bi. When you put the two of them side by side. And then you take them on how to solve the problem of Nigerian economy. Do you know that Okawa will stand very tall? Now, now that in their own wisdom, the leaders and elders of PPP have put the name of Okawa forward. And thankfully, we are the kind of government that he wants to call. He should listen to him very well his speech after being given the ticket of PPP. He concurred that the day is shown in, he wants to start immediately. Now, because of that, do you think I need astronomy? And that's what in Okawa. All these things we are trying to speak about or speculate. We might not or even viewers might not understand where the proper campaign starts here in this country. Then you will be able to assess and evaluate what ETI Okawa is made of. Ok, when you look at Okawa, look at that name, ETI. It's a Nippo name. There's a kind of affinity, closeness between its own South-South and South-East. I remember the other time when he was being sworn in for the phone. Mr Kairi, are you still there? Because I wanted to ask a quick question. Can you talk about a name? Is it the names that Nigerians are voting for or are we looking at ability to deliver? Because you keep saying, oh, here's from the South-East. Unfortunately, I think we have lost that connection. But let me throw it back to you, Ponabo. Nigerians have gotten to a point where they're no longer voting based on sentiments. We have been sentimental over the past eight years, seven and a half years running. Do you think that it's just the name? The fact that, oh, he has an Ibo name or a South-East name that would give votes to the PDP. Again, I'm talking strategy here. No, no. Mary Anne, I think what the point is trying to make is trying to underscore the fact that he's an Ibo man when he talks of the name. Otherwise, I mean, you have people from Riva State answering across Riva name, answering European names and so on. So I think what the point is trying to make, actually, is that he's not just an Ibo man, but we are in the Ibo name. I think that's the point he's just trying to make. The truth about it is that Okoa is from the Ibo-speaking part of the Ibo. You know, it's like you have the Ibo, you have the Ibo in the West. You can't say because they're the West, they are not the Ibo. What it has to do with a John National Congress? What it has to do with a John nation? Of course, they participate. The reason is because they don't have offices. So that's the point we are trying to make. We all enjoy the rivers. We all enjoy in Bajasa. So you have Ibo in the Ibo, Ibo in the Ibo. You also have Ibo in Bajasa. So he's an Ibo man in Bajasa. I'm sorry. You're saying the same thing again and again just as he said. We're emphasizing on the ethnicity. We understand that. Fair and clear. But how does this mix with getting votes? How does this get us or get the PDB, the winning votes that they're looking for? The point we are making is this. It is Okoa will be more accepted by the Ibo's than any other. Why? Because he's one of them. That's the point. He's one of them. He's an Ibo man. If he goes to Ibo State, if he goes to Ibo, he's one of them. Because I think they have the Okoa's Ibo in Bajasa has the same dialects. Not just language. We don't know about Ibo. So it's very easy for Okoa to be accepted. He'll be seen as one. Like a brother who just traveled out of his country. He's like having a brother in America or having a brother in London. That's how you'll be seen. So it is easy for him to mingle. He's not going to marry him of his heritage. It's quite easy. That is why they say, because the Ibo's, especially are amazing. They are almost, they are threatened to ostracize more and more go for the beauty slots. They want the president, the president to become the president of the country. They are even threatened, openly. So the point we are trying to make is, fine, you have a people to be there. That is not only about the people to be there. Because, like I said, we, as you have also confirmed, we've come beyond the Basilic Polars. Like I have always told you, I don't give a damn about the fact that I'm more concerned about the individual. So for our House of Assembly, I can vote for party A. For House of Breasts, I can vote for party B. For Presidents, I can vote for party C. That is my conclusion. Not the individual, not the party. Sorry. At the end of the day, we are all going to suffer for it. I vote for India, and I give it Nigeria to vote for India. So a lot of people might vote for PTOB. No doubt. But some will also have that sentiment, depends on his auditory power when he approaches them. Some will also have that sentiment. He's also our brother. And most okay, we also have PPP. So let us vote for him. So it is better for Nokoa to be presented to the Ibo's than any other person to be presented to the Ibo's. If it's about placating the Ibo's. Because the climate for Presidents is from there. And the cry against injustice, marginalization and discrimination is also higher from there. So that's the point. That's why we are saying, well, he probably has an edge as an Ibo man. He's also as an Ibo man in Delta C. That's the truth about it. So you might be more appealing. That is all the synopsis of what you are trying to say. Okay. Quickly, Mr. Coyote, I think we're going to wrap up with you because I think you're back. So the... Close up. Can you hear me? Mr. Coyote, can you hear me? Mr. Coyote, can you hear me? It's the point that the Ibo's we consider. Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. I think you were saying something. Yeah. It's a point. It's another point that the Ibo's we consider. The way that you like it or not, even look at that name if you are here. Like I will say to that before the line went up. There's a close affinity between the Ibo's and the Presidents. Between the Delta and the South East. And to that extent, there is this strong belief that Okowa is an Ibo man too. It's not like when you are looking at the Yoruba people and then the Adyashie people. There is the blood of Yoruba in the Adyashie people of Otonu. So also the same way we should look at it. And again, whether you are picking Okowa or you are picking whoever it is, what we Nigerians should be looking for is about performance, competition. A thing that will kick-start our economic progression. Immediately, this one. A thing that will ensure that there is a workable systemic and cohesive Nigeria. Contrary to the thing. A thing that will ensure security. A thing that will ensure that this is a strike of Asu and other professional bodies is being put to a stop. A thing that we know that impotention of wealth is fraudulent. And then ensure that there are a lot of scattered... I mean, when you are refinery, scattered everywhere in our country. A thing that will be able to look for work, to look inward and be proactive than those being reactionary. That is what we should be looking for. And interestingly, we ask somebody who has an experience, who has been in the presidency for eight years, and then who was instrumental in the success of that government by breaking in a lot of technical crimes. Now, it is always going to bring in a technical crime as vice-president. Well, I want to say thank you, Mr. Dayakayadeh. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. Dayakayadeh, up on a point called Tyre, both political analysts. Thank you so much. Eyes are watching, of course, for the campaigns to see how it plays out. Thank you so much. Thank you for remembering me at the end. Thank you so much. And I'm going to Nigeria once more. All right. Thank you all for joining us. Well, we'll take a quick break. When we come back, we'll talk about the Muslim-Muslim ticket, because that seems to be the question pointing towards the APC right now, as we all await who the choice of the running mate for Astuadru Bala Mertidubu will be right back after this break.