 On the breakfast, Najran politics takes place within the framework. 23 years after, we take a look at the system and what has transpired so far. Also on the breakfast, the governorship election syndicate, state is shadowed for June the 18th, little over a week from now, the people of the state will elect a successor to Gov. Coyote Fiammi. We take a look at the speech of the candidate, their competence as well as their intention. Don't forget, we would also be looking through the papers as always analyzing the biggest stories after the day. Welcome to the breakfast in Plasti via Africa, I am Masya Bouf. It's a beautiful Monday morning, a happy democracy day. Well, we start off a top trending conversation as always with conversations that are generating different reactions in different spaces. And so first on the list this morning is the president's speech. You like to say, Buhari's democracy speech. Let's take a listen. We'll be right back. Today, June the 12th marks another democracy day anniversary and an occasion to celebrate freedom and unity of our nation. From 1999, we consistently celebrated democracy day to mark the end of military rule and the return of power and control into the hands of those freely elected by the people. This is my last democracy day speech as your president. By June 12, 2023, exactly one year from today, you will already have a new president. I remain committed and determined to ensure that the new president is elected through a peaceful and transparent process. The signs so far are positive. Recently, all registered political parties conducted parameters to select their candidates for the 2023 general elections. These parameters were peaceful and orderly. Those who won were magnanimous in their victories. Those who lost were gracious in defeat. And those agreed opted to seek judicial justice as opposed to jungle justice. I will therefore take this opportunity on this very special day to ask all candidates to continue running issue focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity. As leaders, you must all showcase high character and never forget that the world is watching us and Africa looks up to Nigeria to provide example in governance. The tone you set at the top will surely be replicated in your followers. For the voters, I am pleased to inform you that in the last seven years, our government across all tiers has made significant investments to reform and enhance our electoral laws, systems and processes to safeguard your votes. The executive, legislator and judiciary were and still remain united and committed to ensure those reforms are fully implemented in the 2023 general elections. Welcome back to the breakfast. Of course, that was the president's speech or democracy day. If you like to say that has not really sat well with a lot of Nigerians. And some people have not been impressed with the speech of Mr. President talking about, you know, democracy. Some people think the speech is empty. Others are saying that it's a reputation every order time. And others are saying, hey, there's really nothing there to talk about. But, you know, the big question would always be, I mean, if we look at the tenet of democracy, how far have we fed so far in terms of all of the issues that, you know, democracy would stand for. So you want to begin to look at the issue of freedom of assembly and association. And some people would say, what happened on the 20th of October? What happened? Freedom of association. We remember the situation that happened right here in Lagos where, you know, there was a massacre. According to the report that was confirmed by the panel that was set up property rights. There's a lot. And a lot of Nigerians quite disappointed with the speech of Mr. President saying it does not. Nothing really reflects the tenet and, you know, the principles and believe of democracy. There's a total waste of time. Well, however it is, the cases there are no absolutes. They're just relative. Progress it is that we're making very nascent. And I'm sure that we will definitely get there. Away from the president's speech, let's also take a look at a recent movement. Now, if you follow the Nigerian politics, then you will be very sure that the issue of political apathy is on top of the list. Now, it feels like 2023 is going to be very different because there's been a recent movement. Some people would like to call it a revival. Others are saying this is the revolution. No PVC, no church. We'll take a track now when we come back we'll continue with the conversation. If you don't have your PVC, don't bother coming. Because there is no point in having Christians fill the church. But during election, we have only a handful of them go out to vote. So it means our number, our population means nothing. So we want Christians to take their responsibility and their role seriously. So today I am serious about it. As I'm standing here, if you have your PVC, begin to come in. But if you don't have your PVC, find your way back home. You will not attend Massier today. Is that clear? Because with your PVC, I have begin to come in. I also don't have their PVC. We need to go back. I'm serious about it. What people do is, from today, if you're coming for Mass, carry your PVC. If you don't have your PVC, don't bother coming. Because there is no point in having Christians fill the church. But during election, we have only a handful of them go out to vote. So it means our number, our population means nothing. So we want Christians to take their responsibility and their role seriously. So today I am serious about it. As I'm standing here, if you have your PVC, begin to come in. But if you don't have your PVC, find your way back home. You will not attend Massier today. Is that clear? Because with your PVC, I have begin to come in. I also don't have their PVC. We need to go back. I'm serious about it. Well, I find that very funny. Comical if you ask me. But like I mentioned, it's something that's going on. It feels like some people have described as a movement of the PVC. But you need to also read the comment and see the reaction and hear the conversation of Nigerians across the entire country. It's something that we have not seen before. But in all of this, the question is, in the cost of asking that people get their PVC, which is very important, because according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you have a right to vote and be voted for. And so it is within a right. But some people are also questioning the fact that is it also compulsory to vote because it's a choice. Now, in other climes like Australia, it is actually a crime not to vote. But I'm not sure that in our country or our polity, it is actually a crime not to vote. At the end of the day, we're talking about rights of individual. But you see, everyone also have a right to a peaceful assembly. And that's what the Constitution talks about. And that's why it is always very disheartening when people talk about protesting government policies across and then having protests and then you have some anti-protest element. At some point, people say these persons are really from the government trying to stop the people because everyone has a right to a peaceful assembly. So what should be the approach? Yes, we understand it's important that everyone become part of the election process, become part of democracy because if you look at the concept of democracy, it has to do with the people. And so participation of citizens is very critical as one of the elements of a democratic process and system. And so, yes, it's fine that there's a movement that's asking for it. But on the other hand, are we also depriving people and the citizens from also having a right to a peaceful assembly? We need to think about it. Two wrongs can never make a right. But hey, the encouragement and sensitization should continue because it's important that you get your PVC. It's important that you cast your vote because you have a right to vote and be voted for. And if you do not have a PVC, how then do you cast your vote? And what right do you have to criticize any government if you're not part of that process? And that's it. Let's move away from that. Still with the issue of vote and 2023. So you also have the youths saying, hey, we're taking this back. There's been a lot of concerns. I mean, we have a lot of our celebrities who have come out together and they've gathered and they've organized concerts. And they're saying the concerts at the end of the day so encourage the young people across because there seem to be a perception. Not necessarily seeming to be, but there is a perception that votes don't count. And that's because there's a deficit, trust deficit in the system. The people who have lost trust in the entire electoral process. And if you move around, I engage with the people from time to time. And then you get to hear people say, oh, it doesn't really matter. Votes will never count. I mean, who cares? They already know who would become the process. What's the essence of going out to vote? And this is constantly contributed. But it feels like it's different because you have the likes of Wajie, the vows among all the celebrities. I mean, people coming together, influencers saying, hey, young people of Nigeria, your vote will count. The concept and the ideology that your votes never count is a delusion. And that's why you have this concept. Also, very interesting is the fact that, you know, the chairman of the MPAR, we're talking about INAG right now, Professor Mamoud Yacoubo has also assured Nigerians that they have voted to count and they're doing everything possible. It probably just feels like this might just be the right time to be a Nigerian. And as he has assured the youth and Nigerians across saying that we would have a free and fair election. The president has also assured that there will be a free and transparent election come 2023. Absolutely great. But we'll take a listen to this when we come back, we'll continue with the conversation. Clearly, I have two requests. When you collect your PBCs, when you collect your PBCs, please let me assure and reassure you that... I mean, that's the MPAR, the chairman of the MPAR, encouraging and assuring the young people that were gathered for this concert saying that they have voted to count. And I think that this is a time that we all have been waiting for, constant engagement. And it's a process. And I think that gradually we're getting there, you know, the feedback. Of course, there's also been calls that you have an extension for the voter registration. And that is it. But it's important if you haven't gotten your PBC at this moment, it's important that you look her out for the nearest location and get your PBC and also get ready to vote, cast your vote ahead of the, I mean, come 2023 because it is your right, you have a right to vote, to cast your vote. Now, if you're not even vying for a political office, but you also have a right to vie. And so don't, I mean, neglect your right because you do have that right. And that's the much we can take this morning on our top trending conversation. We will return tomorrow with more interesting conversations that are generating reactions in different quarters. Say with us when we return. It'll be time for us to be looking through the front pages of a National Daily. We'll call it off the press down. Great analysis coming your way because we have open up on Kataria who joins the conversation. Good morning.