Undoubtedly Nigerians are in for some interesting times in terms of governance style that gives practical meaning to Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as the “the Government of the people, by the people, for the people”.
The spectacular picture of the President -elect Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the weekend in an Airport shuttle was truly a worthy symbolism for change. We are about to witness a President “by the people for the people” . When last did we see most of our governors, ministers and legislators at public terminals of public airports? There was once a Nigeria in which commercial pilots would annouce with admiration the presence of governors and ministers on board of commercial flights. Now they have disappeared into some private terminals of private jets! And who pays for this executive indulgence? If elected leaders do not experience what the citizens feel at airports, on our ever worsening roads, expected change in infrastructural improvement will be far fetch. Flights are whimsically delayed, even put off altogether because those who will regulate private operators cutting corners do not experience what the citizens witness daily. During his second term bid President Goodluck Jonathan made several claims that he had made motorable about about 25,000km out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide! The President permanently known to be in the air with presidential jets could hardly appreciate that the “motorable” roads are by-words for pot-holes claiming lives and constraining free movement. If the President- elect and governors can pass through the public terminals as part of the new beginning, the hope is that they will appreciate the poorly finished and (in some instances!) abandoned “remodeled” airports all over the country.
It was also reassuring in the week when the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja ordered the security personnel attached to him to endeavour to obey traffic rules. According to Malam Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation Buhari was quoted as saying that “abiding by law would be the guiding philosophy of my administration. Without leadership by example, the ordinary citizens would become copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders. The arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for the rights and convenience of fellow citizens would have no place in my government.’’
Not few lives of many Nigerians have been criminally wasted by reckless convoy drivers of presidents, ministers and governors alike precisely because these leaders disregarded with impunity basic traffic rules. The refreshing disposition of change of the President elect should serve as additional impetus for the Federal Road Safety Corps to do their jobs; prosecute any office holders who flout traffic laws and wreck unprovoked violence on innocent citizens.
I recommend to the President- elect an extensive incisive interview Mr Hans Rudolf Hodel, Switzerland ambassador to Nigeria granted the on-line Premium Times last year,( precisely September 22, 2014) entittled Our govt officials don’t steal public funds; they don’t use private jets or fly first class
Some of the excerpts are worth repeating here.
PT: …how does your country ensure that corruption does not set in whereby people in authority corner what belongs to all citizens.
Ambassador: In Switzerland, people consider public wealth as their own; so if I will use my government’s money to do private things, then I will really have the impression that I am stealing from my fellow citizens because I am also a tax payer. For instance, whenever I travel for official duties, I fly economy because it’s my taxpayer’s money. I can’t say oh! Now I have an opportunity to fly Business or even first class because it is government money.
PT: As an ambassador, you fly economy? We believe Nigerian officials fly first class.
Ambassador: Oh yes, that is why I hardly meet them, I must fly economy. The only exception is that when you are first appointed and when you are going back, that is the first and last trips; you are allowed to fly on Business.
PT: Other top officials use presidential jets?
Ambassador: No we have only two presidential jets and they use them rarely. They are mostly used when a large government delegation is travelling, like when the Minister recently came here to lead a delegation to your government. But, none of our Cantonal Governors fly official or private jets. Perhaps it is due to the proximity between citizens and their elected representatives. They walk in the street and take the trains to work just like any other citizen. For instance if I take a train to work, I may be in the same Wagon as the Member of Parliament representing my constituency or even the Minister who also often travels to work by train. That proximity favours a high degree of accountability as well….,
On vehicle convoys, there was once a big scandal, it was in all papers because the wife of the president used her husband’s official car for shopping. Our Ministers have one official car, with a regular local registration plates, and he has one driver, so that he can work in the car, but there is no police car either in front or at the back. Sometimes, the Ministers use the train, I remember one time I was coming back for holidays from St. Gallen to Bern as a student and I saw the Minister of Finance asking one employee of the Federal Railways when the next train going to Bern is leaving, and this fellow did not know that he was talking to the Minister of Finance, and we ended up taking the same Wagon with the Minister, I was seated right opposite him. There is no reserve compartment for any top government official or police escort in the train for anyone. They don’t have to hide or fear anything from the population because they are doing the job that the population wants them to do. Even Switzerland knows how to manage recycled looted funds than us who exported the looted funds in the first instance!
Issa Aremu mni
