 Thank you for staying with us used to watching the breakfast on plus TV Africa. It's our Christmas Day special And right now it's time for other press where we'll be reviewing what the national dailies are saying this morning Joining us to review the papers this morning is professor Kamilu Sanifagi from the Department of Political Science Barriero University canoe. Good morning, sir. Thank you for joining us Good morning. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you. We hope to get celebrated. Well I mean, I know you're Muslim Eventually that's our first headline for today. Unusual Yieldtide as cash crunch Unaffordable prizes mark celebration. That's where we are right now And that's the story on the Guardian and possibly every other newspaper that there is cash crunch Well, that's no longer news. It doesn't even need the comment anymore We know that this is what is happening. It's not working properly. I think it's a double job, buddy You've got the bank You get to the bank. There is no cash there and those of us who are working under the federal government Have not received their salary. So most of our Christian brothers Will be celebrating the Christmas or are they are celebrating the Christmas under this hard condition and the sadder fact I that Commodities are so expensive, right, which is Quite the bus. Usually when there's Christmas or any festivities People tend to cut prizes, but nowadays In the opposite so I think that is why I said this Christmas is going to be a hard one for Christian brothers because of the Financial situation we are in now You know, even if it's the Christians that are celebrating, it affects everybody because in the Salah for instance My Muslim friends will give me Ram. So when it comes to Salah and they cannot buy Ram Iran There are little things that put smiles on the people's faces and help for bonding and if these things are absent This bonding this sharing of love would be very difficult So everybody is suffering it even whether you're a Christian or a Muslim Because even as a Muslim, you're still gonna eat. So you're still going to go to them Yes, and still buy these commodities for the exorbitant prizes that they are now So it's really a terrible thing Yes Yes Headline here on the Guardian it says tinnable six support promises more interventions to is hardship So obviously we've talked about how difficult the times are right now because people cannot afford The basic amenities people cannot afford food people cannot afford to celebrate Christmas The way they would love to because of the cash crunch But now the president is promising us intervention to is the hardship. Do you believe that? You see even what happened in the past six months or so Or seven months from the integration day to date we have seen so many and has so many promises and Unfortunately, none of them has materialized. So I think Nigerians are now becoming used to Political promises and see nothing on the ground. So I'm a little bit pessimistic I'm hopeful that the president will fulfill his promise But at least for now I am pessimistic that it will happen given the Number of promises that have not been fulfilled so far. Okay, so I was just looking to yam go before you came on and we're talking about the fact that I'm Refinery is about to start Producing we have done go to refinery about to start producing as well. So we're like, okay possible It's very possible that the fuel prices might come down. We're just being hopeful and optimistic And it's possible because fuel is like a ripple effect to everything So it's possible that things will start to is for everyone. So could it be that? Next year is looking up for everyone, especially with the fact that the cash crunch is really Dampening our moods right now, but can we be hopeful for next year? Even though the precedence is saying this but looking at all of the other things that seem to come for next year Is it something that we can be hopeful that it will be a better year for everyone compared to 2023? I think we should be hopeful but To me, I'm already pessimistic. So I am hopefully a pessimistic The reason is that the two refinements that you mentioned Portaport and Dungote Even if the function or the start operating Giving what happened in the past? I don't think they they will bring down the price after all Our oil has been marked with a dollar and the dollar kept on rising And if we also look back at what happened like when Dungote Goes into went into Cement production It never come down. So, you know business people are there to make profit and after all Since the niner is very weak Okay, and there will be Counting things in dollars. So I think unless we address that issue of the weakness of the niner that is when we will be very hopeful that the market if the two Things start operating that we are going to see The price coming down. But like I said because we are counting things in dollars So and dollar kept on rising I don't think there will be any positive change or drastic change. Let's let's put it this way There will be minor changes At the moment, but it is not going to be that I Strong enough or effective enough to affect the And beside, you know, uh, the world bank has started talking you remember last week also when they are representative We are saying that we should raise it to 750 and You know, our leaders tend to listen to them more than the Nigerians. So that's why I'm a little bit Personastic about You know since coming down in the new year, but I hope that it will come down I always fear when Dungote is involved in any business because it seems to swallow his competitors all the time and he has some special Um concession some social privileges that everyone's one doesn't have so if we enter as a business Be sure that every other person will be swallowed. So I don't know like that monopoly. Yeah, yes He likes monopoly. I'm monopoly. So I don't know if that will give us a positive change in the oil industry or not Well, I'm just saying I'm not the analyzer. But there is this story Still on the guardian there, uh, an individual Or To restore constitutional governance. We're entering into a new year. Do you think This admonition can be carried through from the body language and the actions of the present administration Do you think that by the end of this administration in four years time? Constitutional governance will be restored in Nigeria You see it is a better company. Is that that will restore it? Oh The system corrupts So I think it is even in the interest of the leaders and interests of Nigeria and that will restore constitutional governance because democracy is about Constitutional governance. So I think the leaders are better off To take heed of this admonishment and and try to Take a step to do it. Otherwise, I think I I Things will not overwhelm for us. The fear is that The fear is that The fear is that these same people who we are hoping would be the ones to restore constitutional governance are the ones that um Benefiting from the spoils of non-constitutional governance as it is when I try to voice this thing out and somebody just asks me Do you think the government that went to another state? To dictate to that state what to do like the case of river state is something something Government that will try to restore constitutional governance because If they do that it will not benefit them the way they are benefiting from the system right now. So do you think That person might be right that this government may not be thinking about restoring constitutional governance because they will not see the gains Yeah, I think he is he is right because our politicians Tend to have short sight You know, there is a myopic approach that you are benefiting from The crisis, but nobody is looking at the consequence of doing that So unless I look at the either side effect of it and the no time effect One would be pessimistic that they will not do it, but I think That they may see the handwriting on the wall that it is high time for them to do it this issue of Abusing the constitution, you know misusing Israel using the rules for personal gain I think Is it interesting and I believe eventually our leaders will look at it because They will see that they have only one option either to continue with it and then destroy the system At least try to take step to arrest the situation So that they can ensure the continuity of the system and the continuity of their benefiting from the system Okay, let's move over to the next paper. And for this one we have the nation Well, there are some major headlines there, which is talking about president in a book assuring Nigerians of a new dawn and progress But let's look at it may fairly now, which which is the former CBN governor. It may feel a mustapha TGI tackle CBN investigator now as we all know The report came that Godwin may fairly had opened 593 accounts offshore accounts that We don't know about and then He has come to tackle The investigator saying that those account those reports are false. He did not open this account And if they were opened is without the knowledge His knowledge and he also said that the redesign of the nair was approved by the former president bohari So what is your take on all of this on emi filet saga? I think I'll put it that way. Yeah, the elitist puts it very succinctly Methodist sues the investigator. Yeah Go on sir. Yeah, I think he's taking the pie eight back Because he's not only denying that things have happened and From other reports from other papers that is suing the investigator So I think um, we won't see You know the pie tool continue because um as he drags On and The other side drag it on so we are going to see a lot of it But um, I believe that whatever act is the damage has been done Because it's a serious indictment to the poma civilian governor and even the nation because We wish we should see it beyond himself Because this is the thing that has already dented the image of Nigeria This issue of corruption. So I think we are going to see more of it in the new year and That is not the end of it because people are not coming, you know, disappointed with what is going on air in particular I Almost resolved that I will no longer read news about corruption because it is But only the second seat in our headline other corruption or complete somewhere. So there is nothing positive that people will look at I accept this issue of corruption here and there. So I believe that uh, like I said, we are we are we are not seeing the end of it with the A end of this new year. I mean this year in fact, we should brace up for More to come in the new year that is coming in the week's time Okay, well, you said you you almost resolved not to read Conflicts and corruption and all that maybe The newspaper proprietors Have your prayer and they want to make it easy for you to make that decision because here on the daily trust It is that newspaper proprietors to adjust cover prices generally To from January 2 they are going to adjust their prices. So maybe it will go up and up and up and then people will just maybe Decide not to read They check the internet. Yes, but down there We take it on the internet And I maybe you would be watching press reviews on the tvs and other things so that at least we keep our press With what is going on Well, can you afford the the diesel or petrol to light your generator because there's no public power That's another thing that we'll be considering But down here christmas expects prosperity soon tiliboo tells nigeria. We've talked about that But there's a small thing the rider there that says national assembly leaders and governors preach peace and sacrifice The national assembly leaders are preaching peace and sacrifice the governors are also preaching peace and sacrifice That's the people should sacrifice. Let me hear your comments Yeah, you see it's good to preach something, but you have to lead by example exactly You know the leaders are preaching this Peace and sacrifice and they are not doing that Look at what's up with the budget. How much do they plan for themselves? At a time when the people are you know filling the crunch they are neck deep into economic crisis and yet They are more concerned. The leaders are more concerned with their own personal Benefit out of it. Remember also what happened while in Covid when everybody was shut down then people are you know the leaders the same leaders were Just concerned with what they will get out of the system. So I think if they want you to sacrifice To be peaceful, they have to lead by example Calling people to do it will not amount to anything in fact It will Where water down the whole thing and it will make people more adamant because they are not seeing it On the part of the leader. So I think it is better for the leaders To not only call but also to back their call by action by leading by example Okay, um All right, let's look at nature news right now and the major headline here says ahead of 2025 deadline Nigeria records 170 local government 117 local government areas as open defecation free Is this what we should be celebrating at this point? I didn't even know how to structure my question and this but please what are your thoughts on this open defecation free 117 local government areas for 2025 Do you think the statistics are right in the first place 117 local government defecation free in Nigeria? In the first place, I think this is not likely to be right because that's what they call how to live with statistics So we are Here we are people are dashing this because we know we don't have a record on this issue Now let's assume for the sake of argument that It is right. We are talking about 117 out of 774 So you see this is not up to 15 percent also. So we cannot celebrate a Pellua. I assume we should be seeing the other way around what happened to Almost a six hundred and something local government. So which means there is that open defecation in in these areas So I think this is nothing we should celebrate about it. I think it is only 717 that is reported that is yet to reach the target. Then that is when we celebrate But when you are celebrating less than 15 percent, I think This is a major problem. So to me, I think that the whole headline is not something that we should celebrate on two grounds One because the statistics May not be wrong may not be true And second, even if it is true, it's so insignificant that we can celebrate it All right, I think it's wrong But I always think like that. I think it's wrong because they give local governments No local government is ODF as open defecation free in benway platu kogi quara states That means every other one has local governments that are ODF Which means it includes legals. Yeah, which I know it's it's not true Because we're having the conversation about Somewhere on the mainland. Yeah, it's not true It's cross over where I come from. It's not true They're declaring some local governments open defecation free. I think they even have to do this You need to sensitize people first. You need to let them know that this is wrong. It's barbaric. You can't be doing this on the streets So you need to give them the reason why not just declaring that it's open defecation free Why should it be and that's the way you can achieve that you don't even have Public toilets Because if you had that and it is free and it is clean people will use it But but even in Lagos here that we use we have them You go to a place like Odebu Bega. For instance, there are toilets There are toilets there that are supposed to be used by people you go there You pay through the nose you buy tissue from them. You pay the money that you're going to use the place Why what are to use in that place? So it makes you what is it? Let me go to how do they call it? The airport and shop put and that's what they do and we're not asking the right questions in the first place But we do hope that we'll get to them The most worrisome thing is that we are lying to ourselves. Yeah, but so and You know, that is the most stupid thing that somebody can do to lie to himself We are lying to ourselves that this is what is happening while we know it is not. So I think uh This is a very bad thing Possibly there's funding coming from international bodies. So you have to show working You have to show statistics and say that this is what we have achieved so that the funding will still come That's how some people with broken legs or headache or maybe a rash somewhere Were recorded as having covet so that we'll have a large number and then the international community will And I doubt till this day and there are a lot of people who do as well That we had that kind of number of people that came down with covet in Nigeria A lot of people don't believe it because I've seen situations where things that are not related to covet were recorded as covet I think in fact, if you just have malaria, it's recorded as covet. Yes, sir The the international communities are representative here and they are witness living witness to it. So Eventually when we keep on telling the lies, nobody will believe us So that is why I say it is a bad thing We lie to ourselves and we expect others to know that I mean to accept it But uh, they are living witness. There is I I don't know. There is any local government to whether or not or have on that You can go and you wouldn't see this problem. So I think it's better We become serious with ourselves and pass the reality and pass it squarely. We shouldn't be playing things just attract you know aid from I call foreign donors. We should Stand firm to try to see them. We're advising by ourselves and we stand on our feet Okay, so it's still in nature news. Let's take one more here And it says federal college of agriculture appeals for federal government intervention against land encroachment So obviously we need farmers We need them to be able to provide food for the nation And the federal government in federal college of agriculture is appealing to the federal government on intervention against land encroachment We've heard of banditry. We've heard of people claiming lands encroaching What do you think about all of this and how the government can actually help? You see the we will be back to the issue of this little politics So I think it's because we have Of our politics side the issue that it is why we are having problems with it actually Land encroachment is a very very serious problem It is a major source of the conflict that would be In so many parts of the country. So I think the government needs to do something About that and our politicians also should be deceased from Over politicizing this issue and they should know that these are serious effect in terms of full security in terms of, you know, even social security, you know, human security Because it is a source of conflict. Like I said, so the leaders Should try to see what are good And the irony of it is that if you go back in history, even the colonialists Were able to do something about it and here we are managing ourselves instead of looking at the problems quietly and objectively we seem to over politicize it and We are now having a problem with with it. So I think the government needs to come to that one And the politicians and the leaders have to, like I said, take it as a serious challenge instead of personally gain And you know, where we have this problem of the ruga and other things Okay, we're winding down now. Well, we have two headlines from the punch newspaper before we take the The biggest headline here Let's look at what sure Inka says. I will assess tinnitus government after one year. That's according to Waleh sure Inka the Nobel laureate I'm asking the question Is it too early to assess a a government because my people say a dog that will be a haunting dog You will know it from when it is a puppy. So is it too early to assess the government And make it sit on on its toes or or do the needful or we should should we leave it till one year according to sure Inka because That he has a verse that is stronger than maybe a thousand people that are ordinary And if he fails to say something until one year, what do you think? I think his words are more than the millions of people because of his Cloud and position But I think it's better. We start assessing here. I will disagree with you We should it's better. We start assessing You know right from the early stages after all if he said he's going to wait until One year one year problem what we are seven months into it. So it's really five months So if you want to make the assessment you start as early as possible So that you can put the leaders on their top It is not after the damage has been done that you can come out and say you have done this assessment I Mentioned it earlier that in the past as seven months. We have seen so many promises by the government at least in terms of those one that have been Say it that have not been fulfilled. So I think we can hold that and after all that is what democracy is about Now democracy is about the accountability of the leaders to the Late, so I think It is not too early. We should start it The waiting until next year. I mean one year. I think it will be a little bit too late to do to it was actually Oh, we hope that people are already doing the assessments right now. So we can know where we are And the the government can actually be on the toes and know that they need to alleviate the sufferings of nine They don't want to know what my assessment is Let me just leave it. They don't want to know what mine is either Let's take another well the major headline here on the punch and it's screaming out loud. It says 187 billion Naira fraud EFCC arrests humanitarian ministries contractor probes for Buhari ministers and the writers here are ex-humanitarian affairs minister Umar Farouk ex-DGs face arrest over 37 billion Naira money laundry Allegation and then the enti graft agency grills out contractors over funds transfers probe three other Buhari ministers over 150 billion Naira that is I don't know what to say, but please I want to know what your thoughts are I'm sure people are happy saying. Okay. We need to find out more We need to probe these people and ensure that if you're stealing money You must dance to the music. You must face the consequences But please what are your thoughts on all of this with EFCC arresting the humanitarian ministries contractors and probing other for others of Buhari ministers You see when I said I'm getting paid up and tired of this issue of corruption I the point is that you hear it all over from this ministry to this agency And it is no longer in millions. We are talking of billions of Naira And the irony of it is that This seems the EFC and other things will Take their position and eventually nothing is going to be done on on the exercise after all With all these things eventually There will be believe again and things will be settled So that is why people are becoming pessimistic about This issue of probe this issue of corruption because we hear it And you know our hopes will be raised that look something is going to be Done on the issue and yet After a long time Then the nothing will come out of you. So that is to me The why people are becoming disenchanted with it and I in particular I'm becoming disenchanted with it because Yes, it is right. We investigate But investigation is not enough Since up to be done after all how many cases are they doing have been trying the Cases I think at least we'll be making headway it after all with all this news About corruption here and there it seems to be you know in on the increase Like I said now it is in billions in the past. It was maybe thousands then we reached two I millions now we are talking about billions and so even in trillion. So I think This is a bad thing for us that we keep on hearing about it And we don't see result of what happened eventually Do you also believe that the ex-president should be invited because all these people being arrested said Or a lot of these things are connected to him as they the chief The commander in chief as it is funny that boharic came here to fight corruption and then we're hearing All these things happening under that administration So if you come here to fight corruption, how come corruption still thrives under your administration? I think that is a big question. And then they're inviting all his ministers and all that especially like the federal government The the cdn governor who said he signed it. He approved Now we design and so many other things and then he's not being invited Does that there's the immunity that we give to our Politicians like president and governors extend to after your tenure. I don't understand. Why is he not also in the fray? Why is he not being questioned? No, you see the immunity is only when in office after the office Nobody has such amenities Literally if you go by our constitution, so I think this issue is that They should investigate diva If the ministers indict him then he has to answer because not at all one of the cardinal election complaining Listen, we say the government is one of it is corruption Anti-corruption crusade, you remember then the the issue of insecurity Then others in the three major sin that they have complained about So I think if at all the those who have been investigated Indicate him then he has The responsibility to come and clear things because we cannot just hope that The ministers or the cdn governor will eventually say that the president is in the in the know And then we leave it out We continue to do that one. I think no, we should forget All with corruption because if we can extend that immunity to anybody and We continue with a believe again anything. So I think we are not serious with Corruption. I mean so so I to me Provided and if uh, he's uh mentioned Uh, then he has no Immunity and it is in his own interest and in the interest of the mission for him to come out and You know clear himself Well, we only hope that we can fight corruption and you know ensure that nigeria is better for everyone and if the musician is the politician Um decides to be corrupt. We hope that they also dance to the music. They face the consequences of their actions At the way you first of all call them musicians Well, maybe that's what they're doing. They're singing for us to dance, you know entertaining us at the moment But yes, we just hope that nigeria can be free from corruption In years to come or even now we can start from 2024 since we have a new year Just a few days, but anyways, this is where we wrap it up on this segment. Thank you for joining us professor Thank you for your valuable. Thank you so much. Thank you and Merry Christmas. See you once again Said to you and uh, happy new year. Yeah, thank you. See you too. Thank you All right We've been speaking to professor Kamilu Tani Fagge Is one of the major professors right there at the department of political science by euro university Tano state We're going to go on a short break and when we return we'll be looking at our hot topic. Please stay with us