We had an opportunity in the Stella Oduah saga to put an end to the wanton waste and conspicuous consumption that is associated with governance and politics in Nigeria…and we blew it. We blew it because we would rather tar and feather Stella Oduah than get to the root of the problem, put in place mechanisms that will ensure that our public servants do not spend our money buying pleasure toys and armour plating themselves. But then I am assuming that we have all agreed that our public officers should not drive armour platted vehicles and we all know how much those armor platted cars cost. I dare say that its infantile to believe that its only Stella Oduah that drives such a car or that she is the only public servant whose official vehicle (or fleet of vehicles) is that pricey. How many of us invoked the FOI (Freedom of Information) Act to determine the number of Armour Platted Cars purchased via government funds and their respective costs? We see these cars every day or is it that most of us don’t know what a bullet proof car looks, feels or moves like?
We raised our voices in uniform collective indignation over the cost of Dieziani’s Private Jet official (and some say unofficial) junketing, yet everyday our public officials traverse the local and international skies in Private Jets, every day to the point where the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja has been turned into a Private Jet parking lot for our public servants and the nouveau riche, no space for commercial airlines to park. We haves since heard of Oga former CBN Governor’s private jet travel bills, who else out there haven’t we heard of? How many of us have invoked the FOI Act to determine the cost of private jet travel of our selected and appointed officials. Better still, how many of us have determined the ownership of the private jets (or fleet of private jets) that our elected and appointed official cavort about in…in an era where some have more than one (I understand that some Governors and Senators have two), where is our righteous indignation?
We “Occupied, Sensitized, and Mobilized” and ultimately politicized “Occupy Nigeria”, another wasted opportunity to address a fundamental problem. In fact, as for the ill-conceived and poorly thought through “Occupy Nigeria” saga, an industry player was overheard smugly commenting that the ignorant proletariat ‘Occupiers’, by pouring out into the streets, unwittingly extended their ‘rich streak’.
Now we are on another hasttag #Bringbackourgirls. I really hope that we find these children and bring them back. The ancillary issue however is what have (will) we learn from the current hashtag campaign? How do we intend to ensure that it never happens again? Or are we simply waiting for this too to blow over and commence the search of a new campaign? Have we now become “hashtag chasers”? Is this the politics of ignorant hashtag politics?
All I can say is that “Diariz God oh”!
Jekwu Ozoemene
You hit the nail on the head on this one. Let's focus on the real issue people
ReplyDeleteNigerians sabi do follow follow na.
ReplyDeleteTo satisfy our greed, 10% kickback it permited for all government contracts. To stem our increasing hunger for for more money, our leaders allocated themselves "security vote" that is not accounted for. The only country in the civilized and uncivilized economy that does that (from my limited knowledge).
ReplyDeleteThe Chibok crisis has opened a can of worms. State security vote; what is it used for? How come rogues can waltz in and out of schools and carry 270 girls?
Our military is ill equiped to protect themselves let alone protecting others. That's why they are slaughtered by these same rogues.
How can any sane human play games with peoples lives? Not just with the girls but with the entire nation; just to make a point. How did we stoop so low without realizing it?
We are used to coping; coping with everything; fuel increase, growing inflation; insecurity, etc, and these rogues and politicians know it. Afterall, our solace is in these words "there is God ooo".