Why I’m Advocating Specific Sanctions For South African Business Interests + More | Politics Today

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:09]From Kenya to Rwanda, President Bolatinubu is departed. Kenya is now proceeded to Rwanda where he will be participating in the Africa CEO forum.

[00:00:31]Behind the ruling parties, public smiles, fresh cracks, secret alliances, and a fierce power struggle are igniting a political storm threatening to shake the foundations of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the crucial battles.

[00:00:51]Hello everyone, welcome to the program and thank you so much indeed for joining in. This is politics today live on channels television. I am Shimala. Let's get talking. We're dealing with some of your biggest stories in the land and bringing those who are policy makers, thought pro uh thought uh uh profilers and those who are in the news for you to give perspectives to all of these stories. Let's begin by letting you know where our president is. Bolatinobu is now in kegali in Rwanda after he left Kenya. So he's in that country for the 13th edition of the Africa CEO forum 2026 be which begins tomorrow. The presidency says that the president arrived at the presidential wing of the Kegali International Airport and was received by Bianca Ujuku and Juvenile Marismunda. All the dignitaries on hand to welcome the president included Mr. Jumak Odual Ali Muhammad Muhammad Ibrahim Zana and Mr. Sunday Dar President was later received by President Paul Keame at the Riro village where both leaders held bilateral talks aimed at strengthening relations between Nigeria and Rwanda.

[00:02:11]All right. The president in Kgali.

[00:02:30]So, um, we're going to be talking about just a few issues tonight. And my guest tonight, you know him not just only that he speaks his mind where he disagrees, he's got his way cast in so many uh areas in which when he believes in a particular thing, he sticks to it and except if you are able to convince him otherwise, he's a very difficult man to convince anyways. is my guest tonight and we're going to be asking questions about his party stance, the politics in the National Assembly and the 2027 opposition coalition pressure on his political party. The opposition has sworn that President Batubu and the APC will be given the beating of their lives and they'll be taken out of the presidential villa at the 2027 election.

[00:03:20]All of that is going to be playing out in our eyes, see how the elections play out. But he's going to be speaking with speaking with me on that matter. But before we get talking with my guest, let's check out some of your political roundup stories.

[00:03:41]Justice James Amos of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a former minister of power, Mr. Salai Maman to 75 years jail term in absentia over a 33.8 billion naira moneyaundering offense.

[00:03:55]Justice Amoto Shaw who convicted Maman in all the 12 counts preferred against him by the EFCC ordered that the sentence shall run consecutively and not concurrently. Justice Amato Shaw said the absence of the ex- minister in court today and on the last adjourned date is a deliberate attempt to stop the wheel of justice. The judge consequently sentenced the convict to 7 years imprisonment in counts 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 and 12 without option of fine. Ahead of the June 2026 governorship election in Ekiti state, a civil society organization's survey report has raised security concerns in some local government areas in the state and asking security agencies to address these fears before the exercise next month. Speaking on the survey report at a news conference in Abuja, the executive director of peering advocacy and advancement center in Africa calls for a joint collaboration between security agencies and politicians to address security challenges that could further worsen voter apathy. The election monitoring group also draws attention to aspects of the survey report that highlighted vote trading as another major risk that should be addressed in the forthcoming elections in the state.

[00:05:12]River State governors in Nalailay Fubar has reaffirmed his commitment to the membership of the All Progressives Congress. Governor Fubar stated this today after inspecting the reconstructed River State Psychiatric Hospital which has been remodeled into a general hospital in Rumo government area. The governor said reports and interpretations circulating on social media suggesting otherwise are false, insisting that he remain committed to the APC and its overall interests. Former governor of Adamawa state, Omar Giri Obindo has assured Nigerians that the Afghan Democratic Congress has a bright chance of winning the presidential and other elections following what he describes as the unimpressive performance of the present administration and other political office holders of the All Progressives Congress led by President Bulamesu. The former governor made this remark in Yola at the Adomar state capital shortly after accepting the call by supporters of the ADC for him to contest for the office of the governor of Adam state under the platform of the party.

[00:06:13]According to him, the ADC which has former vice president Atiku Abubakar as its leader is the only opposition party that can unseat President Zinibu and return the country to the path of true democracy. Ahead of the 2027 general elections, stakeholders and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Abia South senatorial district have commended the performance of President Bolatinu, saying his bold economic policies and developmental projects are repositioning Nigeria and deserve continuity beyond 2027. Speaking during the inauguration of ward and local government coordinators of the doortodoor movement in Abba Abia state, the coordinator of the group Paul Eon charged the newly inaugurated coordinators to mobilize, organize and energize party members, supporters and voters across wards and polling units in support of President Bulameu's re-election in Abia state.

[00:07:17]Thanks so much. There you have it. Those are your political roundup stories.

[00:07:22]Tonight on the program, the storm within Nigeria's main political establishment is taking our attention and inside the Senate. We get into it and some of the growing cracks within the ruling APC fears debates over power. party leadership, consensus arrangement and the battle for 2027. will continue to dominate national discuss from the controversial altercation involving Senate uh President Kosu Aabio and Senator Adams to question surrounding amendments to Senate rules internal wranglings within the APC governor's forum opposition realignment and the mounting political calculations ahead of President Bolatinu's real election be which we've seen that is kicked off in earnest stakes are now higher perhaps more than average joining Tonight on the program is former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC uh two-term governor of Edo state and the senator representing Edo North not in the national assembly senator Adams Olly. Thank you so much indeed senator for joining us tonight.

[00:08:29]>> Thank you Sher. You've been away for some time and welcome back.

[00:08:31]>> Thank you so much indeed I appreciate.

[00:08:34]Let me get you uh one of the issues of concern and those who perhaps would disagree with you uh agree to the point that Nigerians and any other African country. You saw what Ghana did at uh yesterday and today making announcement of evacuation of their citizens out of that country and your stance on the floor of the Senate as to uh the decision of the federal government or what the federal government should be doing in going after the South African uh private interest in Nigeria as a way uh to to serve as deterrence to to the South Africans. But those who are disagree with you, those who will be asking, do you think that is a reasonable pathway into getting the attention of South Africa when you now hold South African company liable to what South African average citizen is doing to Nigerians in that country?

[00:09:30]>> Thank you very much. You I think the the issue for me is very straightforward.

[00:09:35]You have corporate citizens, you have individual citizens.

[00:09:40]Nigeria citizens are being harassed and killed in South Africa. Not for the first time, not for the second time, not for the third time. It's like anytime people wake up, they have no job, they're hungry, they look, they they visit, they transferred aggression to black people and Nigeria has it own fair share of the black population. And so if it's an economic issue, my point is in Nigerian typically in South Africa takes capital from Nigeria, Nigeria money, convert it to dollar, go to South Africa and establish a trading company. Maybe from smallcale business it grows and begin to prosper because they have the skills so to do and then someone wake up one day you destroy that business. There are cases in which Nigeria stores have been burnt. There are cases in which Nigeria owned stores have been looted and of course the owners wasted.

[00:10:41]My my problem is the South Africa government is not on record as persecuted or settled anyone to prison for obvious looting, arson or even murder.

[00:10:57]that implied state endorsement of a wrong policy. I also happen to know because don't forget when I was president of the Nigerian labor congress we have bilateral relationship with the what we call kosato congress of South Africa trade juniors so we had a dream of a world in which workers all over the world in particular African workers will be there for each other and I am shocked that South Africa think that the economic crisis is because of those Nigerians and some other countries people from other countries who are doing uh doing many jobs in their country and they asking them to go and my logic is simple if it's an economic war but Nigeria who is allowing his citizen to go to South Africa where we don't need the visa anyway or put more clearly who's in South Africa to do small small businesses if they are being chased away for doing small small businesses why should we allow South Africa to do big big businesses such as MTN uh I think they have Stabit Bank, you have Shopright, name them. They are all high net worth companies that are not only giving job to top senior South Africans as managers and directors, they are also cutting away billions of dollars in profit.

[00:12:27]So I said to myself, we can't force South Africa to accept our citizens, but also cannot force us to accept their corporate citizens. And in diplomacy, I believe there is what you call recipricity and you can choose your tools. If you have chosen the economic battle at the lower end where our people are suffering in South Africa and you are envious of the job they do then we go after your own businesses that are more lucrative and you are repatrating Nigeria capital MTF for example what is repatriating from Nigeria to South Africa all the incomes of Nigerians living in South Africa and doing small small businesses put together is not up to that as we speak Somebody said you know Nigerians also are part owners of of MTN. Yes, maybe they the last time I read about the shareholding structure of FTN they are hoping that they will go to the market again and Nigeria might acquire up to 35%.

[00:13:29]So they own up to 75 I mean to 65%.

[00:13:34]So I'm like okay this economic war Nigeria need to you shouldn't just say we are big brother a brother without muscle is nothing >> and actually you will appreciate that we did quite a bit now one thing I want to correct I saw um this morning I was watching Rufi of television said lied when he said that Mafusa had a th is an African president he has a in in MTA and that is why I said when we go for his economic jugular in Nigeria he will behave more responsibly because he has been silent even in the face of those killings but two things he didn't reply to but what he claimed was that uh Ramosa's company president Ramafosa's company that had shares in Ma had divested but that is begging the question whether it is Ramafosa or it is South Africa big people who are running those lucrative businesses in Nigeria and they are doing so peacefully or molested.

[00:14:42]I'm saying regardless it's not the fact that because president may be president today won't be president tomorrow but if the logic of the government of South Africa and a segment of the South Africa black population is that you don't want Nigeria to do petty trading then you can't come here do trading let me come quickly >> like shop right now lastly Rafi lied when the other day you know he tried to confuse people as if he's a for consultant he said, "Why are we not killing? We should nationalize the businesses of Nigerians in of rich of rich men in northern Nigeria." I don't know why he seek to regionalize what obviously is a national challenge with regards to people who are being killed by bandits etc. But should know better that as a matter of fact since he somebody who talk about empical evidence and even though most of the time he quoted he quote figures out of court the fact of the matter is that people who have been convicted for aiding and abetting terrorism killing of people in the north was committed their property has been forfeited to the federal government that is worse than national to nationalize is not to seize >> you not take over and pay compensation.

[00:16:04]>> So if that happen >> if that is happening so he asked because he asked me that day he said what worry about people in the north where Nigerians are being killed >> just got it completely wrong. All right, let me let me let me >> I lied. He is actually a pathological liar. He twist in a manner as if for him >> let's focus on this issue and and uh of course you will remember wherew was talking about United State of Africa and those who dream the iner of this world the Nancy Mandelas of this world who dreamt of a united Africa and there's a lot of people maybe these people will be uh moving in their graves to see what is happening and and perhaps Um you look at it again maybe there is an indictment on those who have led this country maybe they have been soft on South Africa in the past and that's why this thing have gone on unchanged but that those who have punctured your argument Senator Ashley to say look if you are talking about the federal government of Nigeria going after South African business interest in Nigeria that may be fought for example the MTN is listed on the stock exchange the chairman and members of the board and of Nigerian descent of they are Nigerians there are Nigerian shares on MTN if you talk about multi- choice for example multi- choice is largely owned by canon France which is directly a French company and there those who will say maybe that's not the right way to look at it you cannot punish corporate private interests because of uh the failure of a government or public interest no you got it wrong first let's be let's be very very clear I talk about categories of citiz citizens all over the world. You talk about citizens of countries, you also have corporate citizens.

[00:17:56]The ownership of uh the open ownership of MT of DSTV may have been reworked in a way as to give it a French face. Or you might go deeper to find out whether in truth there is no longer South Africa content.

[00:18:15]has African interest in it. But the point sorry we don't matter whe interest is some of these companies you no so that we don't mis we don't confuse our audience some of the companies you mentioned they are not owned by South African state >> wait >> they are owned by private public I mean private corporate interest >> yes >> and that's the point >> I didn't say corporate now these Nigerians who are being killed in South Africa whose shops have been looted are we is anybody arguing that they are Nigerian owned owned businesses.

[00:18:48]They are not Nigeria government owned businesses. They are owned by Nigerian citizens exactly the same way as South African citizens have interest in those companies in varying degrees. That is the point. If you impose economic sanction but what I do not advocate, we should behave as a more civilized people. We should do kill, we should do maim, we should do burn or we follow the law. The law allow us to take over.

[00:19:15]there's a hostile takeover there's a friendly takeover so if MTN is quoted very good that portion that is still held by South African citizens that portion should be taken and managed by Nigerians and I saw referred today laboring in a very poor manner that Nigerians can't manage which is himself not our nation as far as I'm concerned he was talking about that succeeded I said how can you be such a poof that you don't remember that glow is owned by a Nigerian Mr. Aduga.

[00:19:50]He's alive and well.

[00:19:52]>> How can you not know that has sufficient Nigeria content and he's doing well? Why are you suggesting that Nigerians cannot hold a GSL company? Because he's so selfided, so parano lavishly and he lie confidently.

[00:20:08]>> But this is not a reporting. This is not a reporting platform. We're here to let me speak to the point the other point you made.

[00:20:15]>> Yeah. And I'm saying that >> now is Niger the past government not been complicit.

[00:20:20]>> You said you said it all. Nigeria have be the pchy bank the purchase in Ghana we turn the other cheek but for Ghana sometime I has mixed feelings because once upon a time we had a shagari government that as Ghanaians to go home that is what give right to this popular Ghana must go because for me that is the problem when governments are in trouble they sought to divert attention exactly the same way as president Raafosa is in trouble at the moment with his own people and it was very convenient for him to behave as if the problem is not caused by him, it's caused by other Africans. So I believe that we can't be the proverbal uh push bank that Ghana can punch us. South Africa can p us, any country can punch even there was a time I think this small country guinea prior whatever they were dealing with some Nigerians who are farmers or coco farmers in those countries. This country must stand for a citizen. That is my position.

[00:21:22]>> But what has your government, you are a part, you are a part and pass, a senior member of this government. What has this government?

[00:21:28]>> How do government policies formulate now I have chosen to be part of the legislative arm of this government and in that capacity I have advocated what I want. But the con allow me to debate to sponsor a motion and to debate a particular policy. If I have my way, it prevails. If I don't have my way, it suffers probably know where I stand.

[00:21:52]>> So that's the reason why that's the reason why I raised the issue of indictment on the manner in which just for a moment s let me land on my question. I raised the issue of indictment of past government on how they have responded and handled the issue of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in the past and we're seeing that also playing out in the past how many days when Nigerians have been attacked in South Africa. What has been the official position of the federal government of Nigeria? Ghanaian government has gone ahead to evacuate their citizen there.

[00:22:23]Has Nigerian government done anything other than that?

[00:22:27]>> Now you just agree with me that we can't keep using the same old-fashioned diplomacy that make our ambassadors and our foreign ministers to exchange cup of tea sign and business as usual. That is why I am advocating specific sanctions because an economic argument they are saying Nigerians are taking our jobs they are taking our businesses that's why they are looting and the capital that the Nigerians are trading with were we not loans from South Africa South Africa banks and even if they are they are meant to be paid back but no bank will give you money to start a business took Nigeria capital to South Africa to set up businesses and they are flourishing and then Somebody is full of envy and then the state is not protecting them. So I'm saying if previous government over the years have gotten used to these cocktail dinners and parties, nice talks, don't hurt me, I don't hurt you. But you know this is not too nice. Don't do it again. My people are not too happy. So I will move on. This time we should not only back we should bite. We should deploy different tools to deal with a recurring problem that diplomacy in the traditional sense of the word has not used. In any case, what you call economic diplomacy. I think it was as foreign minister who was talking about Nigeria policy being based or informed by what he labored I believe correctly economic diplomacy.

[00:23:55]>> Yeah.

[00:23:55]>> Because it's not always that you have to be the guy the bigger nations of this world. I'm saying >> America is using economy sanctions against other countries.

[00:24:05]>> President Bullah made Tubu's government as a reformist government and I was very excited recently when he made a radical statement for many people they don't read or if they do they don't even digest it. Government after government in Nigeria has always said Africa is the centerpiece of Nigeria foreign policy.

[00:24:25]What about I think last month president Bola Bentinu to his credit and to my admiration he said Nigeria and Nigeria citizens are now the centerpiece of Nigeria foreign policy for me that's that implied a radical shift >> sounded like >> from the past where we just go and give hand out to people without any condition senator because the thing that I wasn't happy about is that >> you know there is a point in the life of a nation where both the media, the state and the citizens should be at one. If Nigeria it is under attack, this is not a partisan issue. It's a national issue. My primary purpose in government is to protect Nigerians. Even when I was in NSC, my primary purpose was to defend the Nigerian working families. So anybody and if you are in the media >> regardless of how free you are you cannot be so free as not to understand that if there is no Nigeria there will no politics today your politics today is hardly discussing world politics you are mostly discussing Nigerian politics there has to be a nation and if we are here looking helpless where we know that these guys who are chasing our I mean our people are marketing uh what do you call it uh small small cricket Right. And these guys are marketing elephant legs in our stores. For example, if you take over because again I was shocked that five said Nigerians cannot manage. Whatever you want to see, Peter Obi is managing his trading business. So if we crash, if we crash uh shopright, Peter Obi can take it over.

[00:26:09]>> He can expire his business. I want to mention that shroud business is actually now being diverted as a different entity from I took time to understand the way in which multinationals work.

[00:26:20]>> The same person can be different names in different countries.

[00:26:24]>> They can use different purpose vehicles to to buy shares as such that the real owner you will never see him. That is it. That is that is the word of business. Let's let's take a quick break because we are >> we should not be the one that always turn the other cheek.

[00:26:39]>> Catophobic attack is not the only matter I wish to take you take up with you. But let's go on a first break on the program. But when we return to remember that we nationalized many companies because of South Africa, >> we nationalized share. We nationalized British Petroleum because America and UK and Europe or some European countries were supporting aparat. So if we use economic tools to fight for their freedom, we should use the same tools to bring them to their senses if they get crazy with Nigerian people. And I hope that they've come to their senses and the government of South Africa is learning what may be a very unpolitical I forget there's one MMA who one of the political is a lesson when we talk of party ideologist is a member of South African parliament >> and he said this is a misdirected aggression if president Raafussa's government has failed to pursue jobled growth to create opportunities for South for South African people. They should not visit that anger on African brothers and sisters who have been with them over the years.

[00:27:53]>> That for me is a voice to be commended.

[00:27:55]>> All right. So that even in that badness, there is an outstanding South Africa of note >> leading a party saying even if this will cost him his votes, >> even if the South Africa will not vote for him for telling them the truth, for reminding them about their history and the need to bring to build a we need to take a pause, Senator, we'll go on the break, but when we come back, Senator Shamal will be telling me whether or not what we have seen as a deepening cracks within the APC, the battle for power ahead of 2027 and the challenge on the Balatonu government and the APC seeking re-election is something that the party should be worried about. The pressure is on and the opposition says time is up for the APC. Be right back.

[00:29:05]Thank you so much everyone. Senator Adams O, former APC national chairman, former Edo state governor and the senator representing Edo state in the national assembly has been speaking with us on the program tonight. Senator, um I'd like us to manage our time so that I can be able to take you up on several of the issues uh I've lined up for our conversation tonight. Uh Senator, quickly and briefly, can you tell Nigerians if there is no kind of hypocrisy that we're playing in this country? We're shouting uh whatever that is being done to Nigerians in South Africa is wrong. But what has been the decis? It's been several days now. We've seen the example of Ghana uh as Nigerian got Nigeria got the opportunity to be able to quickly evacuate his citizen.

[00:29:51]One two the issue of um uh insecurity of Nigerians in South Africa but we cannot secure our people right here. Is that not hypocrisy?

[00:30:02]>> No. I'm I'm surprised by your choice of words like we don't like every country.

[00:30:09]For example, a friend of mine who was general secretary of ordered to me the level of criminality in South Africa. I don't I don't have time now to check my phone. I would have show you about 170 persons are raped every day.

[00:30:30]He has static number of people who are in prison. Those who are South Africans, those who are foreigners.

[00:30:37]Anyway, South Africa has its own fair share of criminality. There is no country, in fact, the highest rate of people in prison are in America, more than 2 million people prisoners and according to statistics, virtually every other mean somebody is killed. So the fact that countries have security challenges is no excuse why is government and here I speak as a senator the government cannot say because we have not fixed security problem 100% in Nigeria we don't care what happened to Nigerians outside Nigeria I don't think you want to push that argument that Nigeria government should fence no that would not be something associated with you because >> have we seen any concrete steps Have we seen a more concrete step? Have we taken a concrete steps? And I gave an example of Ghana. Listen listen, it will be unfair. You have you have watched and reported sometime very lavishly how even very senior military officers have been killed in the course of defending this country against insurgent, against terrorists, against all form of extremism.

[00:31:55]If you don't know anyone who has been killed, I know many including a relation. Somebody from my local government from my senatorial zone was killed recently, a brigadier general. He's not the first brigadier general to be killed. I also know a number of corners captains who have been killed. You can't say Nigerian government is not doing something. The fact that you have rashes in your body is not because of the absence of rubbing appropriate cream that you haven't cured the disease doesn't mean you are not treating it. So let's let's let's choose our words carefully because if you are not careful you will be justifying ironically you'll be justifying about it since Nigeria and there are even some South Africans who can argue that way uh if we kill Nigeria here what is wrong after all they killing them in Nigeria.

[00:32:43]Is that the kind of argument you want to push? I don't think so. I think you should abandon that the Nigerian state has responsibility to protect life and property of Nigerians whether at home or abroad >> because we also protect the life and property of foreigners in Nigeria even when their country are not free of security. I think we should acknowledge one fact we have a challenge we have to continue to deal with it that is challenge of insecurity among others. We have Senator I don't want us to debate South African matter too far. I mean you've made it a one thing we agree I think what we agree just a moment what we agree on what we agree on or what we can agree on as both you are a Nigerian I'm a Nigerian that we will not uh close our eyes and close our mouth if any Nigerian is being killed anywhere in the world >> including Nigeria >> including Nigeria and the fact that South Africa is probably not doing enough to protect any citizen that is not of their own >> in fact they were condemning it only condemn it Yeah. So let me let me let me let me let me switch.

[00:33:52]Senator Shamal Nigerians watched a public disagreement between you and the Senate President who was the uh who was leading the uh the proceeding in the Senate and at the time it was a conversation about the rules of the Senate and there are those who said don't mind us the only reason why he's agitated is because he planned to be Senate President next time around but his hopes were dashed by that rule. Do you feel very hurt by that? Is that a personal reason for you? You know, but there's also there but first you see I think this has been overflogged. I have addressed the media on it right on the floor beside what I said on the floor of the national assembly. I also had address I believe the correspondence of various media including channels on the issue. Nothing to do with me not at all.

[00:34:40]I'm a very happy person.

[00:34:42]>> I've seen a lot of Nigerians have seen but does it take away the fact that senator you wanted to be Senate President. Is that right?

[00:34:48]what it with.

[00:34:50]>> Do you still have the plan of wants to become Senate President?

[00:34:53]>> You know what kiss debate >> is when it's about you. So I'm angry about South Africa because my brother's business have be burnt. Not correct.

[00:35:04]Anybody who knows me knows that I take strong positions on issues that I'm convinced about. Play back my contributions on the floor of the Senate and cycle out the ones that I formed by my personal selfish literacy. I'm talking about this one. I'm talking about the issue has been impact on your ambition. No, you cannot. The rule with regards to the future the the election of Sydney presidency is very well provided for in the Nigeria constitution section 52. Any rule you make that is in conflict with that the constitution will prevail. You are a law student you should know that I'm not a law student but I know that just listen to learned minds. So any rule you make the cautious or poor proclamation the cler not any senator will precide and it will be guided by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria any rule you make to the contrary is a waste of time so don't let us waste my time I think I poking extensively on it we should allow that matter to rest because now I can only >> so have you killed >> and I don't want to repeat myself >> I wanted to be senate president senator >> that was never on the floor of the senate therefor before it.

[00:36:14]>> Do you still want to be Senate President?

[00:36:16]>> Pardon?

[00:36:16]>> Do you still want to be Senate President?

[00:36:19]>> Whether what >> do you still want to be Senate President >> when >> in 2027?

[00:36:23]>> Have I been reelected yet?

[00:36:25]>> Well, you >> in my place.

[00:36:26]>> Have you not Have you not obtained the form? You for the form?

[00:36:29]>> Yeah. Form to what? To apply for a job.

[00:36:32]Have I gotten the job yet?

[00:36:33]>> Yeah, but but >> excuse me. In my place.

[00:36:35]>> There are those who are planning in your party. There are those who are planning to be Senate President who are who who are not even Senate presently. People are different but for me I learned early my my parents told me this you know and I listen to my elders talk that you don't pray for a child uh that to have a baby boy until the child first get married.

[00:36:58]So now my current tenure will end uh at the end of this session be on June 12 or June 13. Okay. Now I am apply for renewal. I cannot take the people of Edo North for granted. I pray that they they renewed my request. They they vote for me. But to take that for granted is to take the democratic process for granted.

[00:37:22]And I will not join you to speculate on that. Right now I have applied. And you could ask me do you want to be a senator again? I will say yes. What is the evidence? I have applied.

[00:37:35]Not only that, I have been screened and on Monday I'll be going for primaries.

[00:37:42]If I win, I will face the election on January 15th.

[00:37:48]Excuse me. Only people who don't have fear of God, who do not understand that we are not who we are by reasons of our strength, we begin to postulate about what they want to be.

[00:38:00]I feel we should take it step by step.

[00:38:02]Right now, my current mandate is about to expire. I am working hard to get a renewal of that mandate. That is what I want. Why is this not out of place to ask you Senator why you whether or not you have the ambition because you once had the ambition of wanting to become a Senate President just for a moment just to be president of Nigeria would you be?

[00:38:26]>> It's not part of my >> born to be a polit today host.

[00:38:30]>> Well, I think I'm born to do this for now politics. The way you talk politics, I fear that if you have opportunity, you want to be president. swear that you don't want to be if it is thrown on your laps.

[00:38:41]>> I swear I don't think I want to be president.

[00:38:43]>> You don't swear because the power of the tongue.

[00:38:45]>> Well, I mean the fact remains I do not think about it. But the question you know you know why you you know why it is not just a moment man do you know the reason why it is not out of place to ask you whether you want to be senate president as long because it is uh just a position that the rest of the senators has given the privilege to one to lead them >> that's right so anybody could be the senate president but it is not why are you afraid to wanting to say you are senate president >> do I betray >> so that I'm asking do you want to be senate president.

[00:39:19]>> No, I'm saying if you choose to jump the gun, you want to play God, I will not join you to play God. I can >> Are you playing God as I cannot aspire to be h just like when I was in NC the DG of SSS called I now ambassador he once called me and later I much more many years later I understand what he was saying that they say I planning to be president of Nigeria. I said which party do I belong to? Then I wasn't a member of any party.

[00:39:49]So I am not I have not been reelected and then you asking me what I like to be. Maybe somebody is thinking like that that is why they they they try to manipulate the way they do. For me for me I am a very contented person because my highest ambition in life was to be president of Nigeria Labor Congress. God knows when I pray that is what I used to pray for. But somehow on account of the way I led the NC I found people asking me even to contest for president and I said no I don't think I have that I don't have a where all the time I would rather go for governorship. If somebody told me I will rise from being the head of the working class organization which Nigeria Labor Congress represent to becoming the chairman of the ruling party. I would say the person is afflicted with serious malaria but it came to pass. So I have learned never to plan. I mean it's all right to pray for progress.

[00:40:48]>> She know you know what I tell my children.

[00:40:50]>> I tell them if I hadn't take it to the root I choose to take to when I was 18 19 when I saw injustice and oppression and everybody was afraid I was going to be sacked. If I was just an obedient years obedient servant at 50 as a blue collar worker I probably would have been sacked. Senator >> and if I became a civil servant and I became head of service at 65 or so I will retire. If I became a chief judge if I read law and I'm foring to be chief justice of Nigeria at the age of 70 I will retire. So what is it now except stupidity that will make me such an ingrate not to recognize that >> even in my senatorial district there are people more learned there are people very seasoned. There are people very caring, there are people very competent to hold this position and so if my people and if I don't appreciate the value of it when I see that there are sitting governors who have run for senate at the time I ran for senate and they lost and I who had left edi government as a governor for about seven four years or or or 8 years 8 Yes. Yes.

[00:42:07]And I came back, I was related. I said it all. I have so much to thank God for.

[00:42:11]But the point is that sh >> don't isolate my my my my position. You said it all.

[00:42:18]>> In everything that I do, when I see people being afraid to speak their mind, I pity them because as a fatty worker, I saw people who were afraid to join the union or to be elected union chairman because they will be sacked. I did. when they were about to sack me, I resigned and in the end I am better off.

[00:42:37]>> Senator, let me take you up on your >> I am not going to comment on that issue 2027. We will see. I mean, I've had opportunity of talking to politicians who say never, but they find themselves in the same shoes they swear never to find themselves. But yeah, let me ask you about say softly one by one. Don't be too >> don't play God.

[00:42:59]>> How does this sound? Senate President Adam Sashal.

[00:43:03]>> Oh, I was a president before.

[00:43:06]>> And you want to be another number position. Yeah.

[00:43:11]>> You want to be number three citizen?

[00:43:12]>> So you want to down this job as a host of politics today?

[00:43:15]>> Is it a bad thing to do?

[00:43:17]>> I just ask you what's your ambition.

[00:43:19]>> I'm very happy.

[00:43:19]>> You want to be the founder of I want >> you want to take over.

[00:43:22]>> I I love being a journalist. So if you want to be a senate president, go ahead.

[00:43:26]>> Your father Your father is still a journalist. like a journalist you would like. Would you like to be the next chairman of China Television Company Limited?

[00:43:35]>> I don't have the powers to be.

[00:43:37]>> Well, let let me don't let us glo this this issue of the APC senator and just about yesterday the president was talking about borrowing and he says that he will borrow continue to borrow responsibly and this is I mean rising concerns about the country's swelling debt profile. Uh and the president said every single dollar that leaves our treasury to pay punitive interest rates, a dollar that did not go into our steel sector, our textile and all of that and he was defending the reason for the borrowing. But senator, I'd like to ask you before uh President Bolatinu came into power. He promised discipline and responsible economy management. The president promised renewed hope agenda, economic revival and improved living standard. Yet since the removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of the naira, inflation has touched beyond 30%. Food inflation climbed even higher in many periods. The NRA lost significant value against the dollar. Going into this election, a lot of the campaign promises APC made to Nigerians. We're going into yet another elections and those who were asking why shouldn't they punish your party by voting them out and the opposition has promised that never again would your party gain that prominence.

[00:44:52]It's okay. So the only thing I would have liked to ask you is that you know you you are China is one of the I think after China was the next and you've uh you've attained a level of uh you have accomplished a lot as an institution as a broadcasting organization.

[00:45:12]Play back your coverage of politics today. your interview with all the presidential candidates in the 2023 election including Abuaka, Peter Obi, Baubu who they all said we will remove the sub first day. So if this president has removed it, has he done something that other did they promise? In fact, I have said talking about what oppositions are saying, please next time ask them because you said because subsidy was removed, prices skyrocketed. You are talking to the wrong person because when I was fighting against the removal of subsidy, that was my fear. But when subsidy became a cover for stealing in high places, I didn't think I should be a tool to be used to cover as as a you know to to to provide a facade for people to continue to bleed the economy dry. So asked uh one by one ask most probably next candidate uh will you re revise the subsidy? Will you restore the subsidy?

[00:46:27]Ask My friend a trader so he's familiar with this will he restore the subsidy who ask oh Amichi has also declared so ask amichi will you restore the subsidy go beyond that you talk about exchange rate ask asparant or hopeful asparant article will you create two exchange rate regime >> but your party >> as was the case before >> your party has been in power the question is that what have you done you've made promises not listening what we have done you even those who have those who have argued that your party your party has failed Nigerian people have people have failed >> how do you convince them that your party deserves to be reelected >> in a regular university even in the regular university let me take your mind back I don't know the university that you attended but I know for a fact that If he stood the field that he has been unfairly failed, he can ask for a remark of his scripts. That is why I am speaking to specific policy decisions that President Ba Metubu has taken, you know, which you yourself alluded to and you claim that those policies are responsible for the current cost of living. So I ask is it of the debate now that those who say the barkus as if was the say so do you think your party said before to be to to be honored by like an engineer has gone into very difficult terrain to re-engineer the Nigerian economy >> really >> yes and I will list them with your permission sir >> no we don't have the time sir >> if you don't have the time >> we don't have the time because you don't have >> and we also say the way you speak that a lot of People say that this opposition what they have in common is that they are hungry of power. The only person who almost speak the truth was Amichi who said he was hungry but he did not define the nature of his hunger.

[00:48:30]>> Can your party understand the pleasure of this opposition that is coming?

[00:48:34]>> This man couldn't be senator Senator but he is hungry for power.

[00:48:36]>> You've seen defeat and you've seen him in an election. You've seen victory and you've seen defeat. Do you think that this pressure this pressure if emerges if Peter emerges if emerges do you think that >> and Jonathan is also in the frey don't drag my brother that's a gentleman who considered the few who said that Nigeria blood is not worth his own ambition so that is a complete gentleman when he comes out we know you are not to speak for him are you a member of his party >> have you seen >> are you from >> maybe you are not following >> ah from south I can even speak more for him than you given that we are joking But it does look like your party is worried.

[00:49:14]>> Worried about what? Like your party is sweating.

[00:49:17]>> You mean that >> APC will be worried about uh which are the parties now?

[00:49:24]>> ABC.

[00:49:27]Okay. I saw Artu is now our best cafe manager because he's attacking Obi and I see Obi attacking Aichi. I say OB is a regional player. I think he's a regional player. He's the only national player. But he didn't tell us what his world unit look like.

[00:49:47]>> We're totally out of time, Senator.

[00:49:49]>> Absolutely out of time. Unfortunately, >> thank you so much. Opposition can have their dreams, but they will be defeated flatly because nobody believe them. They have to speak to the new policies that they will revise whether they will re revise taxation. They will revise for subsidy. They will revise student loan revise any of those bold decision that president are taking.

[00:50:08]>> Elections also come with and surprises.

[00:50:11]>> Thank you so much indeed Senator Adam.

[00:50:13]>> So a pleasure talking to you people.

[00:50:17]>> That's our show for today. Apologies I swore at at some point in the program but I love this job anyways. So much emotions can come. Thank you so much everyone for watching. I'm Shakimal. God bless Nigeria.