 Welcome once again to the breakfast here on plus TV Africa And now let's go to off the press where we of course have a review of the major stories making headlines across Nigeria today I'm starting with the nation news whippers should be on your screen in just a few seconds And of course we'll be introducing our guests after reading through the papers the big one that you see on your screen Yeah, it says Akira the Lou verdict danger ahead. Okay. I'm a one's a PC Also, why I want to lead the APC and that is by Yari government losing millions in lottery State get states rather get conditions to access World Bank 750 million dollars also Naira slides to 522 Naira to a dollar after ban on forex for BDCs Scary story here. It says here Lagos Island may go under by 2050 U.S. Lawmakers the Halt arms sale to Nigeria and of course it's citing Nigeria's human rights record It also shows up in other papers that I'll share Shiite leader El Zagzaki and wife free the of course a court gave a ruling yesterday, and I believe that they have been released abducted Tegena Pupils kept in 25 camps and also awaiting newcom members a Die rather in road crashes as a sad story also in the nation this morning federal government Twitter begin talks over ban and harsh what he faces 20 years geo term after pleading guilty We've known to the Nigerian Tribune this morning the big one you can see there says U.S. Lawmakers block sale of 875 million dollars weapons to Nigeria site poor human rights record Also on the Tribune Delta variant us to ship 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Nigeria APC Congresses Boone insist on consensus option warns against media war Outages as electricity grid Collapses again that happened yesterday and also states get September deadline on 750 million dollars SFTA as grant We can also find on the Nigerian Tribune this morning alleged homicide court Discharges and acquits El Zagzaki and wife police rescue 13 kidnapped naval engineering college students in a do state Gunman strike again an email behead two persons and fooling security looms in northern Nigeria UN FAO warns From the Tribune this morning. Let's see what we can find on the punch Federal government lines up 36 billion nair for COVID-19 third wave 4,261 cases recorded in 30 days Says also the federal government told us each state will receive one billion nair before the end of July says a Bainway commissioner Federal government states officials meet next week plan how coronavirus cash will be spent Buhari Hills Judgment just as divided a Supreme Court affirms a career to lose victory And also federal government moves to a vet first a fresh strike meets us on Friday We're in talks with bandits on 83 Kaduna Baptist students as can And we can also find I am and celebrates as a court for is El Zagzaki and wife after six-year detention NYSE morn's as five camp bound corps members die in crash and also listen IPOB threatens mayhem over Cano's attention gives August 8th deadline One or two others APC Congress is on the threat a Supreme Court declares boonies chairmanship illegal and Also some Senate names, Jonathan and Sambo in six hundred and sixty-five point eight billion nair diversion Demands refund I'm gonna quickly rush to the daily independent newspapers Presidency begins search for credible successor to Buhari and that regards a 2023 election and list Fact-finding group to do checks on APC aspirants powerful forces plan to prevail on tinuble to back younger candidate Also Nigeria to produce COVID-19 vaccine in 2022 says a PSN Buhari considers increase in education budget by 50% till 2023 National grid collapses again as blackout spreads and also US lawmakers stop 875 million dollars arms sale to Nigeria Ask Biden to reassess us Nigeria relations amid human rights concerns We can also see here APC accurate to lose song will lose large Supreme Court verdict on own no gubernatorial elections Court freeze is exactly and wife says they have no case to answer and Also, the Naira suffers its biggest fall at 522 Naira to a dollar after CBN Forex banned to be DC's Analyst see further devaluation of Naira soon Was a good morning to Mr. Ezekiel. Yeah, a talk. Thanks for joining us Good morning, and it's always a pleasure to be on plus TV Africa Good to see you this morning a lot of interesting stories as some of them good some of them really really, you know Shocking I will start with the block of arms sale to Nigeria by US lawmakers Of course citing human rights record and human rights abuse What do you think of this? It's not the first time I believe it happened under from our president good luck Jonathan's administration But once again, we're seeing, you know a similar situation I think that Nigerians must understand that we've become a global village and that whatever is going on is known and seen all over a Lot of times we play the ostrich. We think that by Bearing our heads in the sand while our bodies exposed that we are hidden, but we're not Everything that's going on in Nigeria today There's if you look at your scroll by we look at the number of children that are being held on a Daily basis and what is being done about it? And then there are other things that maybe the effort that is being made to go across the country To bring people like Igbo back or to bring Namdi Kanubak, you know You just want to be a rational mind and sit down and ask yourself very Fundamental questions to what extent is the federal government? Committed to the security and welfare of the people to what extent is the fight against terrorist National or to what extent does it appear to be a sectional interest play and Where you cannot find that line that shows that this is a national fight Then countries like the US will ask themselves am I wanting to be a part of You know sectional Victimization which they could claim it to be so so these are things that we really need to come and sit down and Interrogate I keep using that word virtually every time because it's absolutely important that we start to think We have enough Nigeria is blessed with some of the Most cerebral people in the whole world and yet when it comes to our governance We seem to have a mental block which I really can't understand The American government. I mean when you know America that the dollar is virtually everything Dollar money money money, you know the Benjamin's and all those things But and they come to a point of saying, please keep your in it 875 million dollars keep it. We don't need it Go and improve your human rights record by time he gets to the point where the American government can say keep the money We don't want it then you know that it's come to a point where we the citizens and it brings me to a Point that I always talk on virtually all the time and that is that our focus needs to shift from those in government To those of us that occupy the office of the citizen We need to come and start thinking about country because it's become crystal clear That those in government and those of us that are occupying the office of the citizen We seem to be singing from two song sheets We seem to be speaking two different languages. We don't seem to be connecting We don't seem to be communicating and this is a time for us to go back to look at those fundamentals So I'm not surprised that America is taking that that so before we move on to a different story Does does this or should this you know be something we should worry about? With regards to fight against insurgency if we can't buy weapons from the United States Should we be worried that you know, this might give the terrorists an upper hand or you know Can we then maybe also look to a different source of Weapons and remember also when we spoke about to kind of to kind of jets not long ago sometime last week. Yeah Great perspective there, you know, we have a way of having I keep using I repeat this word mental block a situation like this The action is one The intention that is the reason behind the action is Important they refuse to sell weapons to us great Why have they refused? Because if it's that they don't like Nigeria we can call their bluff and tell them to go to hell If it is that They think that the lives of Nigerians don't matter to the operators of the system Then for goodness sake, we should take sides with them And now the second part is they are refusing to sell the weapons to us affect us because of the fight against insurgency Now when we take sides with them, we can pressure our government To do the right thing and appeal to the Americans to see reason to have everything because Right now it is more of a recommendation and action has not been taken So we that occupy the office of the citizen should come in fast to have an interface with them an interaction All right And say please exactly what is the problem and then bring government to commit to addressing those issues So that they can give us the weapons and then we can prosecute the war against these terrorists All right, because I'm joining those who say they should not be called insurgents. They should be called terrorist I am endorsing that motion. All right Hopefully we can have a longer conversation about it But let's move to you know, Elzak Zaki and his wife now Been incarcerated for more than five years. I believe since 2015 And finally, of course, we got released yesterday The I am in is celebrating. Is this, you know, something that you're maybe also happy about It's something that gives me cause for concern. That could have been me That could have been my mother that could have been my brother that could have been my father That could have been my uncle that could have been my friend What is the fate of Nigerians on social system? You know, it's one thing for you to say the man has been You know incarcerated for about six years and nothing for you to know that during this period He's lost about four of his children During this period he's lost his eye During this period his health has deteriorated During this period his means of livelihood the people that he came out to say this are my flock that I'm to take care of At the end of the day, what level of restitution can you do as a government as a people to make up for such humongous monumental loss Now we come back to the fundamentals again Why did this happen and how did it happen? Was it a mistake where all humans were bound to make mistakes? Or is it a certain policy of government that we must not keep quiet and allow it to continue? Why would somebody's freedom be that be that Tumpard with so terribly I think we need to come back to you know, I was listening to what you were saying about hush poppy now This is a person that committed a crime and Within a reasonable time the crime is addressed and like you rightly acknowledged We have held Namdi Kanu and then bring him to God. Oh, he cannot be produced. All right. I give you The whole of August September October, no, how many months for you to produce him During this period what happens to his life during this period what happens to his family for you to even start the process You hit so many months ahead so that he can be brought to court I mean does it really make sense? Is there an intention behind this? Is it a by-time strategy? Is it I mean is this not somebody's life? If that guy is It's culpable if he has committed the crime is gonna do the time. I don't care who is I don't care about him I care about the fact that we just don't care about human lives. Yeah, I would also mention Jail him. Yeah, don't keep okay. What happens if you bring him in October I think they say and then you start the trial four years down the line You say, oh, he's done nothing wrong. He's discharged and acquitted. What happens to his life? We need to look back at our justice system and know what we should accept and what we should not Absolutely, and life and still on the still on Elzagzaki You know one point that I always like to make and remind injuriances, you know There is still, you know, no actual questions asked about what happened on, you know That day in 2015 when it was arrested Where, you know, well according to government figures 347 of those, you know shites when we're killed There's still no proper investigation or explanation how 300 plus Nigerian lives were wasted in 24 to 48 hours and Nobody still has been asked any questions and nobody's still is being probed And I feel it, you know, that's that's really one of the part that your parts, you know of this conversation that I Feel like we should never forget or ignore You know, and I don't really want to care how long you would take, you know If it takes us five six seven ten years to ask those questions once again I feel that Nigerians should ask those questions because those were Nigerian lives Regardless of what crimes they were alleged to have been committed. They were extraditionary Liquealed and They should never be just forgotten that way Um, it's yes well, you know, you can quickly respond to that before we move to something else Absolutely important. Let me say this for the records one day There's going to be a real truth and reconciliation Panel or commission or inquiry in this country I'm telling you this for a fact you said something and I agree with you it could take five years It could take ten years, but let the people who think that they've gotten away Not forget history. It's happening in the past. It's happening in other places We cannot forget South Africa so soon one day and this is where the office of the citizen comes in I want to appeal to Nigerians all this, you know Coming here to be able to deliberate to be able to discuss to be able to talk. They are good Analysis they are good, but the time look I've gone to join the political party I've gone to join one a DC. I've joined one let Nigerians go and get registered Let Nigerians join political parties. Let us wake up to our responsibility as citizens Enough of this not look the politicians are playing their game They are bringing us to the top. They want to find us on sitting and talking and 2023 comes they bring back their people they do what they want to do. We come back to television and keep doing the analysis I have decided I don't care about any other person for me as an individual. I'm not only joining a political party I'm already registered. I am going to contest if I fail I fail There's something that Mr. Donald Duke said and I loved it. He said if you try You might fail if you don't you are destined to have failed already I'm gonna do it and I'll do it to the way that my children when the record is written They will say this is what our father. This is what our grandfather. This is what our great grandfather did That's what I want to say. The question is what are you and I doing today outside of analysis and Align this book to run our lives and just wreck this country for nothing's sake a country as great as I doubt as Nigerians we should wake up as citizens stop the analysis and join a party any party you want I don't care join get registered get your children to register get your staff get your watch to register Let's go to that pool 2023 is going to about the institution and the citizens and I tell you the power of the citizens is always higher and Mightier anytime any day anywhere than the power of the institution because the citizens set the institutions and we get what we deserve We want a Nigeria that works. I would see how it goes. Let's talk now about the dollar the exchange rate it's a Risen to 522 has never been this high and that is seen as a result of the CBN's directive to stop foreign exchange to Bureau the BDCs basically What's your response to that? I This might shock a lot of people I Agree with CDN I Agree with CDN My concern is the level of sincerity That's my greatest concern my concern number two is the person of mr. MFL a To what extent he's willing to let his conscience Guide him lead him rule him and like a star. He's willing to say if I perish I perish He sits down because he's gonna step on very hard toes He's going to be blackmailed is going to be maligned is going to be all sorts of things But we've got to take some very hard decisions that will bring this economy back on track this thing about you know This the the round-tripping with cash if you owe the banks get their money's instead of giving to businessmen They bring to the CDBC The the broad change so that they can have the differential Why do we let them let the dollar take it? It's it's it's it's where proper rate whatever it is We will suffer it But if we are sincere with it with time is going to come down and stabilise at what makes sense This thing that mr. Sanusi said the former central bank governor they revered a mirror And he said that for my emir or the post emir He said that some people are sitting down in their palace and raking in money in billions Because of the sales of the differentials and we that have business to do cannot find the money And as a result we're suffering so I think that one we should not do this break and quench This was done before and then pressure of course it to be reversed to the best of my knowledge Let's put our foot down Let's the Naira take its course and let people be able to walk in and get legit money and then how do you explain a White man or a guy he goes to bureau the change and he just buys dollars. No documentation whatsoever I mean everybody knows that and it's not okay. That's on one hand on the second hand What is the policy of government let the banks handle it so that if you are buying a certain volume of money We have an idea of where you want to deploy the money because this today today Corruption has been dollarized If you want to pay somebody five million Naira 20 million is occurring all the cash You just go and buy you know dollars people now pay bribes and they you know all this whatever in dollars So we are having a high demand for dollars not for investment, but as kickback You know premiums and I think that this policy I endorse it I agree with it But for goodness sake if it is just a flash in the pan God will hold those people responsible But if it's something that is well-intentioned we should go along with it and then it's worth it at the end of the day well a Few of the comments I've seen you know speaking about the commercial banks capacity to actually handle The effects across Nigeria the demand for excess effects across Nigeria, and you know how this might you know, you know make also Well, you know make the the exchange rate continue to rise Because of the incapacity to handle demand for effects across the country that those are some of the concerns But hopefully they will find find a balance at some play at some point Challenges give you opportunity for you to seek practical solutions Central Bank oversees the commercial banks Let them set up an independent report desk Where you know there's something I set up I'm not I don't know to what extent I want to talk about it here now But you know I set up what we call the national eye Okay, the biggest the best way to fight fraud, you know fraud is afraid of light It's afraid that you know You know, you know fraud thrives in secrecy in darkness the moment you bring in light Where you don't know who is watching you you are bound to be a little more careful The EFCC I'm happy to set up an arm of it which they call the eagle eye Had proposes over two years ago I still think we need to have the national eye and I'm still working with it with them You know, maybe the Senate committee and to see what can be done so that when people know that when you do something Funny somebody else can report you and get action people will do the right thing the commercial banks You know a lot of times people make things to be very difficult We are simply making things be difficult. There's a reason they are to discourage you so that They can distract you and do what they want to do This commercial banks who have been making money from these can deliberately Frustrate the citizens and get the things to start to shout go back to you know the the bureau to change go back there They could be doing it deliberately so the central bank as a today should know that and set up a Policy a principle where they can very terribly seriously, you know penalize the commercial banks are frustrated This is working because if it works Nigerians move on but if they can frustrate the process Oh, we are processing it. Let me give timelines. Let me give guidelines Let me give principles and this sort of decision should not have been taken Except they are putting those principles in place those guidelines and anybody that dares to flaunt it becomes a Economic sub-autor a national economic sub-autor and should be dealt with with a very very special hand Yeah, I believe this the doable central bank just needs to put its axe together and get it done Well, it's back back again, you know bring in, you know the conversation to systems and how We should be able to improve on the way systems, you know run, you know in Nigeria You shouldn't be based on relationships or you know personalities It should be simply setting up institutions on systems that seem that just work And if we don't get to fix those, you know, then we're gonna you know remained in the same circle The corruption may not go and no matter how big the eye is Mr. Air talk, you know, like you mentioned No matter how big this Nigerian I is it doesn't matter for me If you don't have systems that check corruption, you will continue to catch people But people will continue to look out for ways to beat Being caught so it has to be systems that simply just are in place to ensure that The graft, you know You need to think through this Who is to set up the system? The person that is deliberately subverting the system so as to benefit from it. Is that the person? That's against a law of self-preservation That is why we need to go back to leadership recruitment. There is too much Governance in our politics Whereas there should be two little politics in our governance People are getting their governance has become a commercial enterprise We need to sit down a man who knows that he cannot get free fair credible election You cannot get a lecture on free fair credible principles. You want that man to give you credible election He's not gonna do it So it is time for all the citizens, you know, I said this sometime back I went with the former You know see me the Madal Conjoy well out to the World Bank on the project on housing, you know And I was I was pleasantly surprised shocked about when at that place during the meeting We talked about the land use act, you know in Nigeria. It was the World Bank officials that say Ezekiel This is not gonna change Let's walk around it and that Expression has continued to reverberate in my mind Let's walk around it. These people are not going to give you the systems and you are talking about processes They will not but we the citizens have to find a way of walking around to bring people that mean well if today We want to have a governor in an umbrella state What are our? Profiling parameters what are the people of a number of state thinking are they thinking they are party Are they thinking they have their clansmen or are they thinking? Competence and their state how they can recruit the best Maybe one small party has somebody that is not very popular does not have too much money What stops the elite in a number of state thinking of their state and putting their weight behind that person Putting their institutions putting one The system is bigger than a PC the system is bigger than up got the system is bigger than PDP the system The people are bigger than all those three parties Combined all right and all it is on the elites to come in and say we need something that makes sense Profile those people wait put your way behind the best and will have is a new system of people Defending whoever is the most competent that will force parties to stop bringing the most competent as Candidate and not you're bringing anybody that thinking they win because that party as a carry I talk Thank you so much for your time this Thursday morning always interested in hearing your perspective. I wish you a great day Thanks for having me. All right Stay with us the 29th of July in 2018 and in 1966. I'll be sharing with you what happened on this day many years ago