Politicians’ best friends are a set of overzealous, frenzied, and
hyperactive armed people in glittering uniform blushingly obeying their
orders. You may think that this is a flattering statement, but it is
hinged on facts. The latest addition to these outlaws is the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were recently empowered to
carry guns. To outshine the police and announce their arrival, NSCDC has
embarked on killing spree. Recently, one senatorial candidate of the
Action Alliance in Imo North was killed by NSCDC officer assigned to
protect him. The shot which killed the student was said to have been
fired accidentally by the officer who was guarding a local politician on
a campaign trail. Another NSCDC officer also killed a 100-level student
of Petrochemical engineering from Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State.
It is now normative for rich people to die in an arrangement they
conceived. One DJ Khalid was killed by his bike while a certain Yusuf
Buhari almost died on his power bike. Kobe Byrant died in his helicopter
while this Nigerian politician died in the hands of security operative
he contracted. The reason for starting this article with these two
sordid incidents is because politicians have turned security operatives
to private militias.
Every death in itself is painful let alone the one dies from avoidable
death primarily hinged on utter negligence. Why was this trigger-happy
official shooting into the air if not to oppress and harass? All over
the world, virus by its nature mutate but our own virus would not mutate
even for good. Virus by their nature feeds and preys on the host and
will never kill host but the Nigerian virus eats off the host. The
security operatives paid to protect us are maiming and killing the
innocent. A man armed with a killer instrument such as a rifle ought to
be avoided at all cost. This is the aftermath of slow learning and what
genre of politician is that who feels comfortable when loose vermin
around him are shooting and firing dangerously away like binge rats. How
does one weave his head around this insanity?
Across the land, human life has no value and death has become a kobo. On
daily basis, someone must perish at the hands of security agents. Lives
being wasted in the afternoon of their sojourn through the barrel of the
guns acquired with tax payer’s money; guns pointed at those it is
supposed to protect. But denial is a coping mechanism, and our leaders
are comfy with this. Instructively, every leader inscribes his own
history. There exists a foundational problem where some advantaged
people feel that the security forces should only protect them, their
loot and their minions; at least practically wrenching the security
pedals from the state and converted it to their own use is one example.
How often do these trigger-happy security goons go for rifle-shooting
test or refresher course let alone psychological test? This can only
happen in a country where live bullets are used like confetti in a
wedding ceremony. It is like learning China language in Russia because
they will not understand. What business do guns have in a political
rally? Any politician with high self-worth would detest the presence of
trigger-happy security agents around him in a gathering like this but
they are conflicted and undignified. Is this not viewed as existential
threat by the politician? Is the Nigerian security apparatchik not
woven to serve all the Nigerians equally? How can the powerless public
quarantine from the ravenous intentions of the powerful?
Amidst a rash of insecurity, government is intent of misusing the
security forces and precisely the police by allowing exclusive usage of
this resource by the affluent. A country with an estimated population
of 180 million is beleaguered with a police force staff strength of
about 370,000 and this negates the UN’s recommendation of police to
people ratio of 1:450. I will not be branded a wailer if I say that the
police monolith is grossly over-stretched and overwhelmed. This
microscopic number of police force is shared by several competing banks
in Nigeria with branches and sub branches in all state capitals and
every local government headquarters; Diplomatic Missions and foreign
embassies; giant blue-chip telecommunication companies such as Glo, MTN,
Airtel, Mobile 9 etc whose communications masts are guarded. There are
774 LGA Chairmen in Nigeria and each has police escort; Senators and
Members of House of Reps with their retinue of aides and special
assistants, 36 state governors and their deputies with their wives,
children and sidekicks, Chairmen of Federal government parastatals,
Chairman of State parastatals; State commissioners, Judges/Magistrates,
Party chairmen and party paladins; political godfathers, sports and
Nollywood celebrities; Pastors and Imams, modern day money-bags;
successful businessmen and expatriates working in oil companies. This is
aside of traditional rulers, Vice Chancellors and their deputies of
Government and private universities, polytechnics and a host of other
institutions of higher learning.
The FG owns 43 Federal universities, while the states own 52. There are
79 Private universities as well and this leave a total of 174
universities in Nigeria. Add this number to big public buildings like
shoprite, night clubs and hotels, Electronic and print media houses,
Churches and Mosques, police deployed on armed escort duties, police
sent abroad for UN foreign missions; Insurance companies and other SMEs
dealing with raw cash, Yahoo boys who have just arrived and other
dubious individuals that suddenly made fortunes. Do a rough Math and
imagine how many police officers are actually out there in the streets
protecting you and I. There is a reason why slave owners won’t allow
their slaves to partake from the general good. Politicians won’t bat
an eyelid for the common man. The ruling class is conflicted. Depraved,
degraded and debased and that is why most of them surround themselves
with body guards. Peace, self-esteem and security form man’s most
valued needs. But this cannot be true when the Commander-in-chief fails
in his duty and becomes consoler-in-chief. The cycle continues –
Today’s survivors are tomorrow’s victims.
_Mikeonwukwe@gmail.com works with an International Organization and
contributed this article from the Great Lakes._
_ _