This came just a few weeks after the Edo State House of Assembly approved a severance package of over 300m naira for the former governor of Edo state and his deputy which was also considered to be outrageous by Nigerians.
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Apart from the fact that 400 million Naira is quite a huge amount of money, the average Nigerian cannot help but wonder how in Nigeria of recent times, where the new song is that of economic recession does the government believe that adding to the already exotic fleet of cars of our ex heads of state should be the next priority of Government.
This is also coming at a time when the federal government seems to be showing tough stance on corrupt practices and applying austerity measures on Nigerians.
With slashes in salaries, hunting of ghost workers and investigations of former top government officials the government wants to be taken seriously.
However some of its body language seem to speak otherwise, one of which is the planned purchase of these vehicles.
People are angered by the decision to purchase vehicles for the ex-presidents for a number of reasons; first the, vehicles would be bought for former heads of state, some of whom have been accused by this same government of destroying the economy and leaving the country almost bankrupt.
What else is the definition of double standards? Second, this is coming about a year after the former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki was arrested for squandering money meant for the nigerian army to fight insurgency.
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The former NSA allegedly bought bullet proof cars worth $300000 for some of these ex heads of state. Not long after, these former leaders are to get replacement for their recently acquired cars.
Third and sadly enough, Nigeria does not produce any of these vehicles to be purchased for the ex-presidents and their deputies and neither does it produced the parts. Not even the tiniest bolt. Yet we are asked, “to buy Naija to grow the Naira”.
The government even if it wants to protect the interest of the ruling class could at least be sensitive to the cry of Nigerians who are facing tougher economic times or could have even decided to patronise made in Nigeria or assembled in Nigeria vehicles which could save the jobs of some Nigerians who are working in the assembly plants like Peugeot, VW etc.
Worse still, importing cars has been made tougher for the ordinary Nigerian businessman. But then, the present government is not entirely to blame.
Nigerians share a part of this blame. According to the law, our leaders are entitled to three cars that would be changed every four years, paid medical treatment which is to be undertaken in “overseas”, and entitled to thirty days paid vacation in any part of the world.
Being a Nigerian leader is probably one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. We watch as our country is messed up by our leaders and afterwards pay them for leaving the country worse than they met it. Yet we can’t find our voice to challenge this unjust law.
Now rather than reject these vehicles since they already have exotic cars in their fleet, our ex leaders who always sound like they mean well for the country and go about giving speeches or writing books on how to make the country better would quietly accept them and add them to a long list of carbon emitting and environment polluting instruments.
Borrowing a line from public commentator, Japheth Omojuwa; “Nigeria has a long way to go, the problem is we haven’t even started the journey yet.
One of the steps we can take in starting this journey is a major change in our system and laws. Hopefully we would find solutions to our problems.”
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