Politicians\u2019 best friends are a set of overzealous, frenzied, and
\nhyperactive armed people in glittering uniform blushingly obeying their
\norders. You may think that this is a flattering statement, but it is
\nhinged on facts. The latest addition to these outlaws is the Nigeria
\nSecurity and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were recently empowered to
\ncarry guns. To outshine the police and announce their arrival, NSCDC has
\nembarked on killing spree. Recently, one senatorial candidate of the
\nAction Alliance in Imo North was killed by NSCDC officer assigned to
\nprotect him. The shot which killed the student was said to have been
\nfired accidentally by the officer who was guarding a local politician on
\na campaign trail. Another NSCDC officer also killed a 100-level student
\nof Petrochemical engineering from Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State.
\nIt is now normative for rich people to die in an arrangement they
\nconceived. One DJ Khalid was killed by his bike while a certain Yusuf
\nBuhari almost died on his power bike. Kobe Byrant died in his helicopter
\nwhile this Nigerian politician died in the hands of security operative
\nhe contracted. The reason for starting this article with these two
\nsordid incidents is because politicians have turned security operatives
\nto private militias.<\/p>\n
Every death in itself is painful let alone the one dies from avoidable
\ndeath primarily hinged on utter negligence. Why was this trigger-happy
\nofficial shooting into the air if not to oppress and harass? All over
\nthe world, virus by its nature mutate but our own virus would not mutate
\neven for good. Virus by their nature feeds and preys on the host and
\nwill never kill host but the Nigerian virus eats off the host. The
\nsecurity operatives paid to protect us are maiming and killing the
\ninnocent. A man armed with a killer instrument such as a rifle ought to
\nbe avoided at all cost. This is the aftermath of slow learning and what
\ngenre of politician is that who feels comfortable when loose vermin
\naround him are shooting and firing dangerously away like binge rats. How
\ndoes one weave his head around this insanity?<\/p>\n
Across the land, human life has no value and death has become a kobo. On
\ndaily basis, someone must perish at the hands of security agents. Lives
\nbeing wasted in the afternoon of their sojourn through the barrel of the
\nguns acquired with tax payer\u2019s money; guns pointed at those it is
\nsupposed to protect. But denial is a coping mechanism, and our leaders
\nare comfy with this. Instructively, every leader inscribes his own
\nhistory. There exists a foundational problem where some advantaged
\npeople feel that the security forces should only protect them, their
\nloot and their minions; at least practically wrenching the security
\npedals from the state and converted it to their own use is one example.<\/p>\n
How often do these trigger-happy security goons go for rifle-shooting
\ntest or refresher course let alone psychological test? This can only
\nhappen in a country where live bullets are used like confetti in a
\nwedding ceremony. It is like learning China language in Russia because
\nthey will not understand. What business do guns have in a political
\nrally? Any politician with high self-worth would detest the presence of
\ntrigger-happy security agents around him in a gathering like this but
\nthey are conflicted and undignified. Is this not viewed as existential
\nthreat by the politician?\u00a0 Is the Nigerian security apparatchik not
\nwoven to serve all the Nigerians equally? How can the powerless public
\nquarantine from the ravenous intentions of the powerful?<\/p>\n
Amidst a rash of insecurity, government is intent of misusing the
\nsecurity forces and precisely the police by allowing exclusive usage of
\nthis resource by the affluent.\u00a0 A country with an estimated population
\nof 180 million is beleaguered with a police force staff strength of
\nabout 370,000 and this negates the UN\u2019s recommendation of police to
\npeople ratio of 1:450. I will not be branded a wailer if I say that the
\npolice monolith is grossly over-stretched and overwhelmed. This
\nmicroscopic number of police force is shared by several competing banks
\nin Nigeria with branches and sub branches in all state capitals and
\nevery local government headquarters; Diplomatic Missions and foreign
\nembassies; giant blue-chip telecommunication companies such as Glo, MTN,
\nAirtel, Mobile 9 etc whose communications masts are guarded. There are
\n774 LGA Chairmen in Nigeria and each has police escort; Senators and
\nMembers of House of Reps with their retinue of aides and special
\nassistants, 36 state governors and their deputies with their wives,
\nchildren and sidekicks, Chairmen of Federal government parastatals,
\nChairman of State parastatals; State commissioners, Judges\/Magistrates,
\nParty chairmen and party paladins; political godfathers, sports and
\nNollywood celebrities; Pastors and Imams, modern day money-bags;
\nsuccessful businessmen and expatriates working in oil companies. This is
\naside of traditional rulers, Vice Chancellors and their deputies of
\nGovernment and private universities, polytechnics and a host of other
\ninstitutions of higher learning.<\/p>\n
The FG owns 43 Federal universities, while the states own 52. There are
\n79 Private universities as well and this leave a total of 174
\nuniversities in Nigeria. Add this number to big public buildings like
\nshoprite, night clubs and hotels, Electronic and print media houses,
\nChurches and Mosques, police deployed on armed escort duties, police
\nsent abroad for UN foreign missions; Insurance companies and other SMEs
\ndealing with raw cash, Yahoo boys who have just arrived and other
\ndubious individuals that suddenly made fortunes. Do a rough Math and
\nimagine how many police officers are actually out there in the streets
\nprotecting you and I. There is a reason why slave owners won\u2019t allow
\ntheir slaves to partake from the general good. Politicians won\u2019t bat
\nan eyelid for the common man. The ruling class is conflicted. Depraved,
\ndegraded and debased and that is why most of them surround themselves
\nwith body guards. Peace, self-esteem and security form man\u2019s most
\nvalued needs. But this cannot be true when the Commander-in-chief fails
\nin his duty and becomes consoler-in-chief.\u00a0 \u00a0The cycle continues –
\nToday\u2019s survivors are tomorrow\u2019s victims.<\/p>\n