Official convoys of death

THE death on November 12 of a renowned don and activist, Festus Iyayi, in an accident provoked by a governor’s vehicle convoy, is one instance of executive recklessness too many. It is bad enough that Nigerians are victims of incredibly poor governance, but it is intolerable that the politicians who make such a mess of our lives also terrorise us with convoys on the highways. There should be an iron resolve by
Nigerians to bring an end to their relentless harassment on the roads by public officials and other tormentors.

The disregard for the public by persons holding public office and security personnel is becoming unbearable. This was evident in the Iyayi slaying. It is a reflection of the insensitivity of Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, that he allowed his aides to once more drive so recklessly as to waste one of Nigeria’s finest academics in an avoidable road accident. This is the same governor whose convoy in December 2012, was involved in an accident that claimed the life of his aide-de-camp and hospitalised him with an injured leg. His case is typical of 35 of Nigeria’s 36 state governors, who rather than see themselves as serving the people, assume imperial airs and use their convoys to harass, terrify and bully others off our roads. Iyayi, a professor of Business

Administration, was on his way to Kano as a member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities team to negotiate an end to the prolonged lecturers’ strike. There was no reason for a high speeding convoy on the Lokoja-Abuja highway; traffic was not heavy and Wada is not more important than other Nigerians plying the road.

He has not demonstrated the level of maturity expected of someone trusted with such a high office. How does he sleep at night knowing the perpetual recklessness of his convoy drivers has now cost two lives and thrown the families and friends of the deceased into mourning? The experience of December 2012 should have prompted him to issue very strict instructions to his drivers to observe statutory speed limits. He should not be allowed to get away with his indiscretion. The affected family should take the legal option and seek redress in court. Since he has constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, the police officer who drove the car has no such protection, and should therefore, be promptly made to face the music.

Nigerians should no longer accept harassment on the highways by state governors, other officials and police. In 1995, two schoolchildren were killed near the Lagos airport by the convoy of the then Communications Minister, the late Abubakar Rimi; in 2011, five persons, among them the ADC to Governor Ibrahim Shema, died in an accident in the Katsina State governor’s speeding convoy; three journalists died in another convoy accident of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in (Edo State) 2012; and three other persons died in the convoy of Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, that same year. Many other governors’ convoys have similarly wasted lives, terrorised other commuters and caused many unreported accidents.

It is uncivilised, barbaric and irresponsible for elected officials, police and other security agents to harass and intimidate the citizens whose taxes maintain them and the vehicles they ride. The recklessness has gone too far and the police especially, are either on their own, or as enthusiastic tools of officials and sometimes even of individuals, using sirens to cause accidents on the roads and kill innocent people. This abuse of siren must stop.

The Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, should enforce the order restricting the use of siren to a limited number of public officials. Traffic police and the Federal Road Safety Corps should muster the courage to confront convoy drivers that routinely break all traffic rules and speed limits with impunity. These drivers have no immunity against prosecution.

Our imperial governors should emulate Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, the only state governor who refuses to oppress those who elected him with siren-blaring and speed racing convoy. Condemning the trend as oppressive and an abuse of the taxpayer’s money, Fashola said, “From the day I became governor, I have not had cause to use it. I detest the noise. It is an abdication of responsibility, my commissioners have clear orders on that too and they will lose their jobs if they do. This is civilised behaviour.

It is galling that our leaders, many of whom are so deficient in service delivery; who are often corrupt and who routinely rig elections, also maintain large fleets of vehicles to torment Nigerians on the highways. The British Prime Minister has a much smaller convoy than a Nigerian governor and no American state governor or Canadian provincial premier dares to use one to harass citizens in their respective countries. Nigerians also deserve some dignity and respect from officials. They should insist on both.

Civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association should not abandon the people to oppressors. All those who suffer loss or harassment from reckless convoy drivers should seek legal redress. Iyayi’s killing should be the take-off point for the citizenry to take a stand against this barbarism.