Last week, this column discussed the frustrations that motorists are subjected to on our highways by the convoy of vehicles carrying senior government officials. Although this column made specific reference to the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway which connects the North West and most of the North East parts of the country to the federal capital, reactions to the commentary came from all over the country. From Lagos (especially on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway) to Maiduguri and from Kano to Calabar, comments came in torrents, some with specific request that they are not for publication due to the official status of the persons that sent in the comments. This column is dwelling on this subject matter again this week for two reasons: because from the reactions generated by the topic, the subject matter is a matter of great concern to the public, cutting across all segments of the society. The second reason, which is naturally associated with the first one is that freedom of movement is central and fundamental to all other forms of freedoms, perhaps second only to freedom of speech.
Among the observations made by many people that either sent e-mails or SMS were that last week, this column merely mentioned “senior government officials” as the main culprits in this highway act of tyranny. The correspondents mentioned that at various times and on many highways across the country, they have had their ways blocked by not only governors, their wives and their deputies, but by senior military, police and other senior paramilitary officers, including, incredibly, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) top officers; as well as traditional rulers.
Well if that is the case, so to whom do we take our complaints?
But of even greater concern to the public, is the revelation from readers of this column about the alarming spike in the incidents of armed robbery attacks along the same Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway. Nigerians who ply that route have reported dangerous encounters with armed robbers at all hours of the day and night which happen almost on a daily basis. Only last month, newspapers reported that a vehicle carrying female Youth Corps (NYSC) members was ambushed by armed robbers halfway between Kaduna and Abuja, where, unfortunately most of the 11 ladies in the vehicle were sexually assaulted after being robbed of their belongings.
Finally, one reader, a very senior colleague, pointed out that the claim made in this column last week that the use (or misuse) of convoys and siren in Abuja are at a tolerable level was false. The gentleman, who is a resident of Abuja, pointed out that the practice is alive and well and is, in fact, becoming more insensitive.
What all this means is that the government must pay greater attention to those “little” things that matter much to the public. Indeed, according to some social scientists, you can tell the character and even the level of effectiveness of any government from the ease with which people, goods and services move and are moved around the country. Whereas most of the hellish checkpoints on our highways across the country that have “terrorized” Nigerians are gone, as far as free movement is concerned, we are still in bondage. Let us pray.
Re: Convoys of Tyranny
May your days be long
May your days be long for bringing this issue that has caused many families avoidable sorrows, to the front burner for discourse, and to draw the attention of all the concerned security agencies, to do the needful, it is indeed timely.
The mental state of the majority of some of our elected and appointed government officials, is that of majesties over their subordinates, their actions have shown. It is nowhere near their thoughts that they were called to serve, and the reason of their impunity to persistently and flagrantly insult the laws of the land disgustingly.
As we the “ordinary and unimportant people” scream and bemoan, agonize and hurt over their oppression, our security agencies whose responsibility it is to whip them into line, seem to have been intimidated into complacency and incapacitated to constitutionally confront this brazen rape of our sanity and sensibilities on our various highways.
The fact that kleptomania, money laundering and indeed all forms of corruption, (even the corruption of attending council meetings late), are being vigorously fought by this present President Buhari’s administration, should indeed be a stimulant to invigorate the relevant agencies to challenge any and all disorderly ‘leader or rulers’, they are not invicible. These agencies must conscientiously fight this traffic terrorism habitually inflicted on us. I agree with you, this is another form of corruption and corruption in any guise, begets oppression, poverty, depression, sickness, worries and death. It must consequently be combated.
Johnny, Abia
royalhighchief1@gmail.comDear Garba,
You are voice of the voiceless
The above piece is yet another torpedo fired from your ever-ready submarine. Well, in as much as one feels pathetic over your encounter with such a “convoy of tyranny” along the ever busy Abuja-Kaduna highway, one is equally thankful to God because you were involved, otherwise who would have brought this ugly phenomenon, which Nigerians experience daily, to the knowledge of the world. This, truly, has made you the voice of the voiceless. What you witnessed is just a tip of the iceberg compared to what we experience in the countryside, especially during festive periods. The funny aspect of the phenomenon is that traders of all kinds have joined the army of siren-blaring Nigerians who sometimes travel in a convoy of more than 10 vehicles. They are usually escorted by stern-looking mobile policemen who are complemented with heavily built young men popularly called “Apku Obi” (strong heart) in Igbo. They duty of these young men is to teach any motorist who dares to claim his right of way a lesson.
The less chaotic traffic being witnessed in Abuja today as reported in the article is an indication that those of us who supported Buhari’s bid had not made a wrong choice afterall. We plead with the President to see that such democracy dividend is extended to other cities across the country.
Poor “tired looking” FRSC officers! What do you want them to do in the face of such intimidating convoy, more so, when officers and men of the commission are exhibiting high sense of civility and courtesy to road users since the assumption of duty of the present Corp Marshall? The piece has really made my weekend. Thank you.
Dr. Maurice Umeakuka, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State
Thank you
Convoys of Tyrants is the best way to describe those who use our roads as if they belong to them and their families alone. Thank you so much for this humanitarian service.
Maimuna Yusuf.