Late last year, following the death of late Andrew Azazi, the whole of Ikoyi area of Lagos, Nigeria, was blocked to traffic for about 5 hours. Reports at the time has it that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan(GEJ) was to visit the family of late Gen Azazi who died in the plane crash hence the whole of Ikoyi, where the family of the deceased lived was taken over by the military and security personnels.
After shutting down Lagos for over 5 hours, GEJ didn't show up. His Chief of Staff came on his behalf.
This was the third time Jonathan has caused problem with his visit in addition to the one caused by the firstlady, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan when she visited Lagos.
When shall we overcome this tradition? The advance nations we emulate don't do such.
Prof Adesanmi once narrated the story in Ottawa of a Nigerian, who went to the Cinema and when the lights came on after the film was over, he was shocked to discover that the man sitting right next to him, munching pop corn in the dark, was no other person than Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister. He also told the story of how his humble self had sat side by side with members of British Parliament in the Jubilee line London, travelling towards Westminster station and how he stood side by side with Diane Abbot, the member of Parliament representing Hackney, while waiting for a Taxi!
Even in Africa here, a story was once told of a Prime Minister, who was knocked down by a vehicle while trekking by the roadside to keep an appointment. Why? He evidently didn't have a convoy and his only car had developed fault, so he had to trek. This cannot happen in Nigeria!
President Jonathan, David Mark even Tambowall will not step out of Aso Villa without at least 20 vehicles and dozens of aides in tow. This has got to stop. Our leaders need to change their mindsets. Unfortunately, same leaders send their children abroad to learn the civic awareness they deny our people in Nigeria.
Our leaders want to produce a citizentry who feels it's improper to have access to their leaders and they have succeded. What a nation!
Saint-Olawale Jimoh
Observers' Reflections International
©2013
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