 All right, it's a brand new morning and we're back with the breakfast on Plus TV after come. My name is Kofi Bartel. It's a beautiful Tuesday morning. Merci is back and she's back in blue. You know, it's so great to have you back, Merci. Yeah, it's good to see you this morning. I guess you had a little too much of indulging during the Independence Day. I'm not sure. A little bit of, you know, you enjoyed too much and that's why we didn't see you yesterday. No, that's not the case. Well, you understand how these things can actually be. It's really good to be back on your screen this morning and thank you so much for joining us. I am Merci Aboupo and as always, we start off our conversation with a top trending. It will mean that, you know, all of the conversations that you have a lot of engagement on different platforms, but mostly on, you know, the social media and that's it. Now, the particular estate has always seemed to be, I don't know if we should talk about the estate or we're talking about the... Let's start from the end. The drug bust. Sometime ago, I saw, you know, we had the videos, you know, social media is where you get all this information these days. Some boys are fighting in Iyba, which is Iyba. I hope I got it right, guys. Oh, yeah, because I'm always most confused. Which is a part of Lagos where you had some agbeiro, you know, throwing stuff at themselves, fighting. The one where they said the police were standing by watching and not doing anything. And some boys say, now, why should they... Now, you're waiting, you go do. You're going to join the agbeiro fight. Let them finish. You have a few of them to undo. So, anyway, I said, I put out something on Twitter. I said, you know what, maybe NDLA should loan Marua to Lagos State for one month and all these agbeiro killing themselves. And, you know, I mean, look at the one that happened in Quechua sometime ago where they went to start this. I mean, in broad daylight, a human being was stabbed. Now, the NDLA hasn't done a lot of work. And, of course, you can see in front of you another bust by the NDLEA. I think Puba Marua is the man of the year. If there's anything like that, I don't believe in all that. But if you want to give anybody a man of the year, I am nominating Puba Marua, the DG of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as the man of the year. Another bust. They discovered a drug warehouse. Merci. I'm sure this place is not unfamiliar to you. I saw this story. You talk about me. Merci. I hope she's safe. You know, another mansion used to house Tramadol at Victoria Garden City Lagos. Available reports at the time indicated that the officials confiscated over 13, this is a beautiful house here, 13 million peels of 225 milligrams Tramadol. And the baron, the guy, the other part from what we know is now in the NDLEA net. Puba Marua is already Nigeria's man of the year. See all these national awards that are going left-hand and center, of course, creates a lot of controversy about the names that are being nominated by the president as another hot one. Marua, if you also have one already, should receive a national award. It's quite interesting to see. But, you know, I mean, let's even sort of form that particular part. That house looks very familiar, by the way. But, however... Merci. Do we need to pause the program so we can have a conversation? No. But on the other hand, if you talk about Marua and the boss, a lot of persons have actually accused, you know, the NDLEA of being biased. That's it. And, you know, people are saying that, hey, it feels like, well, this is what's happening. And the operation or the activity is actually not centralized. It feels like it's for select persons or select people. That's the conversation. But moving forward to all of that, I'm very concerned because tramadol is on the table. And to be very honest, the use of tramadol in Nigeria is not banned. It's only restricted to, you know, medical use or purposes because if you look at the government policy from 28th and however, it's that tramadol remains a product that can only be administered through prescription by professionals. But once upon a time, I stumbled on an article that was published, you know, about transnational transaction of tramadol. And so every other time you have a research that's been put out, usually you have a research. It's that someone is set out to solve a problem, answer some questions. At the end of the day, there are results in specifics. Do we really act on all of this? Because if we say that we're very strong in the fight against drug, then we should be up on top of a game. I'm talking about government acting. I mean, stakeholders acting in the right direction. Now, the fact that there's no restriction to this, but you know, in medical, it should be prescribed under a certain circumstance. That's what it is. But maybe just maybe we probably might just need recommendation in terms of legislative control at this point of policy as regards who should import and all of the control in handling tramadol as it is, because it's actually not it. But like I said, now a little or so from that particular article, it talks about the transaction that happens as Lagos being the center epicenter for, you know, the distribution of this product, especially within the West African region or the Sahel region have, I want to put it now. And so if we understand, if we look at the reports, and that's my concern, so it brings me back to the conversation of saying when we have research that's been put out, you have an organization, individuals putting out research, do a government, you know, we as a government, do we pay attention, you know, to all of this? It's a question that begs for a lot of answers. And so, however, it's been said that if you look at the not, at some parts of the nuts, especially canoe, if you look at Benner Republic, it's been reported that Benner seemed to be, you know, top on the chart in terms of consumption of the products, that's tramadol. And so why do we have this distribution channel? And why do we have this coming easily? And all of that, the usage of it around this particular axis is because it's been reported that a lot of persons on Nigerians have to get out of the country using this particular route. And so that's it to get out to whatever parts it is, Europe and all of that. And so that's a channel. But I want to say that this article has been made public. I'm very sure that it would have been recommended, you know, to the relevant agencies, but have we really paid attention? It's okay for us to begin to say we're busting, and we're arresting, and we're doing all of that. But we need to look at the root of all of this, the channel of distribution, and how that can be. And not on top of the table is in terms of legislation, because if you look at it, the use of it is not banned. It's not criminal, however you want to look at it. But it has to be within prescription and all of that. And so maybe, just maybe, we might just need a legislation, you know, to tackle all of this. But some people will say that legislation might not be necessary, because we already have laws, and we already have what we should do, and the laws should take, you know, its costs. But that's not the case for this one. Before we move on, we also have to inform our listeners about, our viewers about the fact that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also nabbed a former footballer, Okafor Imano Jr. He was arrested at the Mutala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos on arrival from Sa Paolo in Brazil, and he was found allegedly, reportedly, 1.4 kilograms of crack cocaine. And that's the picture, just in case you're wondering who that was. This is only related to the Tramador bust. This one is former footballer Okafor Imano Jr., who, on return from Sa Paolo, Brazil, was found with 1.4 kg of crack cocaine concealed in his bags after arriving there, an Ethiopian Airlines flight. He's from Abia State. He was discovered to have that product in the handles, he hid it in the handles of his bags. He said to have played football with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Inugu FC, where he was for four seasons before leaving for Sri Lanka in 2014. So he was returning from Brazil alongside with him, or along with him, who were arrested also, Ibe Chinadum Demian, who came in from Sa Paolo, Brazil via the same Ethiopian Airlines flight. So that's a lot going into that one with too much time on that. But it just, I think, shows that the NDLE authorities are sitting up to do their job and to make sure that the drug problem in Nigeria is nipped in the back. Don't forget, the biggest cocaine bust in Nigeria's history was recorded whilst President Buhari was away at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He had to take a step aside from his activities there to place a call through to Buber Marua, the head of the agency NDLEA, to congratulate him and to express his pleasure at that bust. So the NDLEA is doing its job, I mean, actually talked about selective justice, I don't know about that. I mean, they've gone to the slumps and the hood, you know, just like they've gone to the plush areas, I mean, drugs everywhere. I mean, if you're found to be holding drugs, would you say, oh, you're being biased? If you find you with the drugs, you find you with the drugs, you have nothing to to to to complain about, you know, so it's best you don't do the crime, otherwise you do the time. I mean, you go to some countries like the Southeast Asian countries, a case in point in Singapore where, you know, as you get into the country, they give you a card, a white card. And of course, in red, right there, a drug crime attracts a death penalty. So I mean, as you're stepping in your trembling and you're making sure there's nothing when you're researching your box and make sure nobody has accidentally forgotten something or put something or slipped something inside because you don't want to be given the death penalty. So I think they need to do more. Maybe you have more stringent penalties, probably, like the death penalty, and people will stop doing this, or at least it's going to go down. Well, specifically for Tramadol, I think that, you know, the policy on importation, there should be a legislation or legislative policy towards that. However, I want to put a look at it in terms of who brings it in and the control of all of that, because the snow ban really to the use of it, but it has to be used within specification and description. Yeah, I wasn't talking about Tramadol, I was talking about drug crimes. Drugs generally. I mean, I've just been specific on that particular one because that's what we're saying. Yeah, but I mean, there are stringent circumstances on which you should possess prescription drugs, which is what they are. So even if it's a Tramadol, which is a prescription drug, for instance, of course, they shouldn't catch you walking on the road with it. I mean, if you don't have a prescription, so it's straightforward. Whether it's Tramadol, whether it's cocaine, if you break the law. And who has the right actually to import it? You know, it's also another one because how do you now have... No, there are rules. I mean, that's what we're saying. You get a license to do these things. You get a, they are what do you call it? You don't import Tramadol going to put in your house, you know, in VGC, and you say it's a drug that people take. No, that's not it. There are rules, there are regulations that you have to go through so that you cannot follow the law. Is that telling me, if you find me walking around a Kotonu border or driving from one place together with a bag of rice, for instance, it's not a crime. They are procedures. To show that maybe I bought it from somewhere, I might receive this or I got it from. So they don't suspect me of smuggling it. So all I'm saying is this, if we have maybe more, maybe if we have more stringent penalties, the incidents will reduce. I'm just going to say. And as much as it's okay to have stringent penalties, it's also okay for us to be very clear with, you know, the policies, legislation, the laws, let it be crystal clear right there. So we know what we're into. But away from that, another is that you have also the Lagos women working for Tunibu yesterday. It's a period of campaigning and it's a period of politicking. So you expect a lot of rally and support, et cetera, of first October where you had the Liberal Party supporters tronking out to the streets of Lagos. They were in different parts the entire state. But yesterday was quite different because, I mean, Lagos women worked to support presidential candidate, Siwa Drew Walla Tunibu, who was former governor of Lagos State. And if you see, it was really constituted, I mean, the composition mostly women, really, can you see a police officer there? That's a man. But it was really off a lot of women who came out to show their support. That also has several reports, different reports, contrary to what was saying. But this really looks well. I mean, I'm not even surprised, like I rightly mentioned, as a period where politics and politicking has started. And so we'll be expecting a lot of this from various supporters and political parties. Yes, indeed. It's a very interesting one. And the accusations or allegations by some opponents of the Progressive Congress in Lagos state is that the people who you see out there, this is their own allegation. The people you see out there who tripped out yesterday for this Lagos women march for Tunibu rally, that they were mostly rented. This is what some people allege. Now, I've seen one or two clips, you know, user-generated videos online showing certain persons in a queue, so two queues being paid. That's what the allegation is. Some also allege that women in the markets around Lagos state mostly were forced to close down yesterday. But it was public holiday, so would markets be open? That's yet an allegation. Someone even told me yesterday that his sister was forced to buy the t-shirts, and he referred to that sticker sales episode, mercy. Remember that KK sticker sales episode where M.C.Lomo had to come out to say that he doesn't know about it. If it is interpreter, it's official sportsman. Well, so that's the accusation. But for me, really it doesn't matter because it's all part of the political game as far as this country's content. For now, whether they were paid or they were not paid, it doesn't matter. Because even so, they rented crowd. Don't worry, as we didn't pay, so we're going to win. That's not how it is. They will rent the crowd, okay? And they're going to go on rent the votes as well, and they will beat you hands down. So what you have to do is not to sit down and say, what does that mean? And they'll beat you hands down. It sounds like you already have... I'm saying this as scenarios. I'm not a prophet. I'm saying this as scenarios. I'm saying if you sit down on your hands as a political party, a political movement, and so they rented the crowd, and then you say, you know... So are you saying that they should rent the crowd? I'm not saying it's true. If the allegation is true. Are you saying that the opponent or the opposition should also go ahead and rent the crowd? No, I'm saying don't use that as a yardstick to say you have victories guaranteed. That's all I'm saying. Don't use that as a yardstick to say victory. They will rent the crowd. I'm not saying it's true. I don't have evidence. But for those who will say, no, they rented the crowd. Don't worry. We are, we are organic, natural. We are going to win. No, they will rent the crowd. When they finish renting the crowd, they will rent votes for the... For 28 September. They will gain votes. And they'll use those rented votes, rent votes. They'll use those rented votes to defeat you. So all you have to do is to say, okay, we need to strategize. We need to plan. We need to do more. Not to say, well, we didn't rent the crowd, so we're better than you. It shouldn't be, it's not Arsenal versus Chelsea, all right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't like the fact that you're bringing Arsenal and Chelsea into this conversation. No, no, no, you have to work. That's number one. Number two, of course, there's been a debate, of course, is out as to who had the larger crowd. I saw some APC guys on social media say, no, you know what? This is just a... We're testing the mic. They said that they are testing the mic. That this is just the women who are coming out. Who should just... It's just a tip of the iceberg. You're testing. You know, when everybody comes out in full force that they will hear, you know, this is not even... But the Bobology Bank Anthony stadium, from our Nikon stadium, is a 10,000 capacity Sita stadium. So maybe we can see that those who came out were about 10,000 in number. But one of those who was there happens to be Jocker Silva, her own dear beloved Jocker Silva. Olujicops Jocker Silva. Yeah, the one from the movies, Nollywood. Jocker Silva did this. She did this. And she put out a tweet that, hey, I am at the APC Women's Rally, you know, and people came for her, you know. But I mean, Jocker Silva is an individual. She has a right of association. She has a freedom to... Guys, listen to me. Leave Jocker Silva alone, please. Don't even think about harassing her. You can harass Renault Mokri if you want to. Leave Jocker Silva alone. Why would Renault Mokri be harassed? What should you be harassed? No, no, no. Jocker Silva is different. Renault is in... So, Renault is not within... Come down, can I finish please? Finish. Renault is in, is playing the game, so you understand. I'm just saying Jocker Silva is really... Jocker Silva also playing the game? No, I'm saying we love her and we adore her. So, guys, all I'm saying is, leave Jocker Silva alone. She went for the Lagos State Women's Rally. She's a legatian. She has a right to go anywhere she wants to go to, to associate with anyone she wants to associate with. And that is politics as democracy, except people want to force the party on everyone. Then of course, there is no more democracy. Apart from Jocker Silva, there's another Nollywood actress there and some other celebrities that people want to mention their names. But I mean, what I like to remind people of is that everyone has a right to support whoever they want to support, whichever party. Believe it or not, believe it or not, believe it or not, we're still practicing democracy. In case some people... No, but that's it. I mean, that's very valid. For every other time that you have anyone going out to show support, or they belong to a certain political party, we understand those who are not expected to be partisan. And of course, I and Kofi are not expected to be partisan. And that's what it is. We're expected on air. Mercy, you... Wait, but however, Kofi, let's not go that. Nobody expects you not to be partisan, Mercy. Kofi. In your work, in your work. But in life, if you want, if you're partisan... Kofi, can we not go get into that conversation? In life. Mercy, you have a right to vote. No, I understand. You have a right to be voted for. I understand, but in the context, but you want... Look at them. Who are we talking about now? Kofi, let's not go there. Because for the want of time, okay, let's move on. It's correcting you. No, I said what I said within the context that I said it. I said this on air, that we, because we're on air, we're not expected to be partisan. Without work, without work. Of course, and that makes a lot of sense. So let's not even get into the other side. No, I don't have a party, because I don't naturally belong to any political party. You don't belong to the political party? Yes, of course. Because you're a media person. Or that's your principle. So I will definitely vote, but I don't belong to a political party. You're not a hard-carrying member of any party. Exactly. And that's what it is. That's what it should be. Kofi, let's not even get into this conversation. Let's finish our thoughts. And then we'll talk about it over and over again. No, we can talk about it some other time. No problem at all. Maybe we will have a time to talk about it. But one thing to stand sound and should not be accepted. If it's anything to go by, with all of the allegation, everyone has a right to follow whichever political party supports and vote whoever they want to vote. That's because we're in a democratic dispensation. But it would not be fair that some people have actually been forced to support a certain political party. Yesterday, about now, and if you go on the media, you would see videos. We're hoping that there will be a verification to all of those videos that are making the rounds where some persons were forced to show their stores and asked to go out to a certain location. If not, XYZ would happen. Excuse me, I said allegedly. I didn't say it happened. No, I'm saying that if that's anything to go by, and I'm also saying that we should pay attention to this. It is not democratic in its nature. And like I rightly mentioned, if it's anything to go by, it's important that we can continue like this and expect that we're practicing democracy. Let people freely support any political party they want to support. Let people freely associate with anyone and identify with anyone. As long as these groups and peasants do not constitute a threat to national security, and that's what our democratic process is about. We also have another, but you know, Kofi, I'm hoping that you take that. Yeah, okay, fine. So this is the House of Representatives a member calling for the scrapping of the Nigerian Senate. It's interesting. I wonder what the senators will have to say about this. Somebody's telling you that your daily bread, they should take it away. You know, after you've done all the political fighting, they say it should be scrapped. Normally these calls come from outside the national assembly because there's what we call a spirit call. Hey, it's when you see, some people when they see policemen on the road, policemen trying to harass them, they say, it's pretty cool. This, well, in there, they have the practice of real spirit call. And so it's strange to see a House of Representatives member representing all via federal constituency, Denisi Dahosa of APC, a state calling for the scrapping, scrapping, scrapping of the Nigerian Senate and the introduction of Unicameral Legislature to reduce costs. He's not the first time that anyone is making such a suggestion. I think we've had it so many times. Yeah, a couple of times. We've been tired of it. But he said the Senate, one of the two chambers of national assembly in Nigeria has a bicameral legislator. Give away if the country is serious about cutting costs of governance. Now, will he Dahosa be judged in terms of the content and the idea of what is, the content of what he's saying? Will he be judged on the merits of what he's saying? Or will he be judged on the basis of his membership of the national assembly and being a good fellow member to not try and take the bowl of Gary and soup from the table of another member? Is what we're waiting to see what the Senate will say? But let's leave it at that. But quickly, just before we move away from this one, the central government has actually hinted that there's a plan to fund the budget from other means, which I mean, other means we would say, apart from the oil, which is the country's main source or original source of income would be selling assets in 10 states, owned assets at the end of the day, just to fund it. We understand that we're on the, I mean, revenue is a major challenge for Nigeria, especially at this point. I mean, it's the time we have never been so broke as a nation. We have always been broke, but right now it feels like we're so broke. Like you rightly stated, it's not the first time we're talking about whether or not we need to scrap the kind of system caught the cost because this would be what it amounts to. But however, if you look at it, the presidential system of government that we practice, the big question will continue to be, can we sustain this form of government? Can we afford it? Because it comes with a lot of price. You have to have a two system of, you know, a lawmaking. You talk about two houses, the bicameral, I mean, so we're actually practicing the legislation where you have the bicameral legislation, two houses. And what he's calling for is a unique cameral. And all of this has its advantage or not. Now, and if you look at the system as as Nigeria, where you have divergent groups and peasants, so you're talking about a lot of people and interests need to be represented. If you look at the plus for it, it would mean that a presidential system would carry all of this, where you have everyone being represented. But let's look at our current reality. Would it be necessary that we begin to, you know, practice what fits our system, what works for us? Because over time, you understand that, I mean, we have been saying, or we're practicing a certain, you know, system of government and what have you. But can we really look in what's and say, this is what we're working for us, despite whatever it is that we think about, would it be okay for us to begin to cut costs? Because if you look at the system that we're practicing, it's quite expensive. We understand every other ought that comes with it. But can we sustain it? Is it sustainable, the bicameral system? Should we be considering unique cameral system in terms of legislation? What will that mean for all of us? Especially where, if you look at the world and countries at a time, you have about, you know, 40% practicing unique cameral system of legislation and 60%. But we need to move away for the want of time. We definitely visit this conversation. Thank you so much. You probably will have to go, go, go there. We've got these days and... Go, go where? But we have to run. We have to run. We'll be right back. Today is the 4th of October, 2022. Yeah. And we'll look at what happened today in history. We'll be right back.