That Gift of Prado Jeeps for Lawmakers!
By Shadrach Okon
Inspite of the stubborn desire to protect myself from scrutinizing what transpires daily in the political landscape of Akwa Ibom State, inspite of the periodic desire to abandon the thought of speaking for the helpless Akwa Ibomites erking existence in the streets with mirthless countenance—the contortion of rage and disgust on their faces–I am compelled to pen down this article as our public office holders continue to make their eccentricities in public office more pronounced.
With the respect I have for Governor Umo Eno, as a citizen of Nigeria to define his right of association as guaranteed in the constitution of Nigeria, I prefer to remain neutral in the midst of the heated polemics on which political party is suitable for the governor to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in 2027. I believe that the political association of the governor should not gain prominence more than the matters that concern the welfare of ordinary Akwa Ibomites.
The recent gift of latest Toyota Landcruiser Prado Jeeps to Akwa Ibom lawmakers serving in the 10th National Assembly is a misplaced priority. It is astonishingly pathetic that this is happening in a season that the media is buzzed with the stories of well-established politicians in Akwa Ibom State, hijacking the empowerment that was meant for the ordinary Akwa Ibomites.
According to market research, the price of one latest Landcruiser Prado Jeep today in Nigerian currency falls between N150million and N180million. Spending close to 2billion naira to procure such vehicles for 11 lawmakers when such funds would have been used to boost subsistence farming in rural villages, fund entrepreneurial development, settle unemployment issues and make quality education accessible to every Akwa Ibom child does not augur well for our democracy.
Harold Lasky in his Grammar of Politics observes that: “The electorate is the paramount authority in the State.” And no executive in his quest to occupy the seat of power should jeopardize the welfare of that authority.
Spending such humongous amount to feather the nest of politicians who are already living on public funds demonstrates the flinty life of a leader who fails to possess the details of the stark naked reality of economic hardship bedeviling his people. Yes, other governors before Eno, may have gone on the same spending spree, however, Akwa Ibom people expected a total departure from the norm of history especially from a governor who is branded as a paragon of prudence
Today, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Akwa Ibom State ranks as a State with the highest level of unemployment in the country. Also, in our dear State, many children within the age of nine are battling with learning poverty with many classrooms in our hamlets bare of teachers.
While the governor continue to receive applause for building model primary schools and primary healthcare facilities one per local government, we should remember that one of such facilities per local government cannot offer equal opportunity for every Akwa Ibomite in search of better healthcare and quality education.
The National Policy on Nigerian Education, lays emphasis on the fact that government should make deliberate efforts to equalize education by ensuring that educational opportunities are available to all, equitably. Until every Akwa Ibom child can access a model school in his community, we cannot claim to have achieved much.
The best leadership is the one that nurses a million worthy careers and potentials of the populace, one that shields the infant, the aged, the helpless, the blind and the sensitive from life threatening challenges.
The National Assembly is an institution that pays for the privileges of her members with the proceeds of a heavily taxed population in Nigeria. Hence, the luxury lifestyle of 11 lawmakers already enjoying such rare privileges should not be accorded more importance than the welfare of over 9million Akwa Ibomites who engaged the governor in a social contract through the ballot in 2023.
