The recent report that top government functionaries and politicians in Nigeria are currently in a mad rush for multi-million Naira bulletproof cars, ahead 2011 general elections, calls for grave concern to all well meaning Nigerians, especially, those disturbed by the level of poverty and hunger in the land.
As a Nigerian and an important stakeholder, I feel particularly concerned by the reasoning of most of our leaders. I am not an enemy of personal success; neither do I condemn genuine efforts of affluent Nigerians desperate to protect themselves in the face of increasing insecurity in the land, but considering the abject poverty of present day Nigeria, something in me simply could not come to terms with this option of reckless display of wealth in the name of reacting to state of insecurity. Rightly or wrongly, I fear that proliferation of bulletproof cars and similar sophisticated security gadgets, aside being unpardonably wasteful, will only teach violence merchants how to also go for the most lethal weapons of destruction. This will not be in anybody's interest.
So, instead of accepting it as the best solution to the increasing crime wave, kidnappings and violent murders in the country, I consider this option as concrete evidence of deep rooted selfishness of the economic elites and demonstration of their lack of concern for the feelings of the down trodden and the oppressed.
The reality of the development is therefore repulsive to my sensibility not only because of the huge resources so mindlessly wasted on this crazy show-off but also because the decision to go for bulletproof cars, few months to a general election, sends disturbing signals of the buyers' worst expectation on how the elections would be conducted. For example, instead of envisaging free elections that may, at worst, record simple fracas at a few polling booths, which would not need array of bulletproof cars to resolve, it appears today's politicians in Nigeria are expecting full scale shoot-outs between political opponents.
The report said the bulletproof car Nigerian buyers seem to like best has the capacity to shield the occupant against "multiple, black market armor-piercing rounds from an AK-47 or M-16." If this is not the kind of weapon our politicians now expect their opponents would be armed with, why are they acquiring these very expensive vehicles, when many of their relations and extended dependants, including their unpaid employees, still wallow in hunger and lack?
There is no doubt that the increase in the request for these bulletproof cars has direct bearing on the approaching general election and the dirty intrigues that follow campaigns in Nigeria. The report quoted the Executive Vice President of Texas Armoring Corporation, Mr. Jason Forston, as confirming that the Presidency, governors, politicians and other wealthy Nigerians had raised their demands for "new anti-ballistic vehicles from the company since the former governorship candidate of the Action Congress in Ogun State, Otunba Dipo Dina, was shot dead by unknown gunmen," on January 25 this year.
As Forston reportedly puts it, "orders have certainly increased as 2011 elections draw nearer. With the untimely death of Dipo Dina and kidnappings/murders on the rise, many political candidates and hopefuls have felt the need to protect themselves."
Giving further insight into the bulletproof-car boom and the preference of their Nigerian clients, Forston reportedly said, "We call this vehicle 'the Beast' and its becoming increasingly popular among wealthy Nigerians. One Beast vehicle can sell for approximately $400,000.00 USD. "He was referring to Armoured Cadillac Escalade B7.
I do not intend to waste anybody's time here asking how the Nigerian public servants and politicians acquiring these exorbitant armored cars for personal use would get the money. If I do so, I would only be pretending not to know that most, if not all of them, will naturally pay with stolen public money and so will not feel the squeeze of parting with as much as $400,000. 00 USD in order to purchase a single car, which, though bulletproof could be smashed by a drunken molue driver in Lagos.
I am only concerned with the extent to which this investment would help the investors, the election itself and Nigeria in general.
I recall vividly when former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, resorted to acquisition and use of various bulletproof jeeps. That was after his ignominious abduction by his political opponents, at the peak of his celebrated face-off with his namesake and former political godfather, Chris Uba, who led other powerful Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abuja politicians to battle his government.
One cannot deny the fact that Ngige enjoyed some level of protection then, as a result of the armored vehicles. But I still recall when he has serious accident with one of the jeeps.
This, to me, shows that complete protection cannot be found in the use of bulletproof cars. If all the top functionaries and politicians in Nigeria acquire bulletproof cars today, it certainly will not serve as foolproof guarantee of their safety. Simple wisdom should tell anybody that if desperate armed robbers, kidnappers, militants or assassins cannot stop and kill a top government functionary or politician while he or she is traveling by road, on account of driving Armored Cadillac Escalade B7 or any other bulletproof vehicle, such a politician or important personality can be attacked while at home or in a public function?
So, if we are to continue with the reasoning of the present patrons of the Texas Armoring Corporation, the next step would be to resort to acquiring bulletproof offices, bulletproof houses, bulletproof helmets and bulletproof dresses, etc.
It is ludicrous how wasteful Nigeria and Nigerians can be. For a country and a people that cannot produce a bicycle or Keke NAPEP (Tricycle), we are not ashamed that we truly account for 30 percent market of elitist companies like makers of bulletproof luxurious cars.
If this country is ruled by people with conscience, the federal and concerned state governments should react to this report by immediately withdrawing all the orders they made earlier, which were intended to be given to individuals for personal use and as ego building show-off.
The report quoted an unidentified official of Lagos State as alleging that most of the armored vehicles the state purchased from the Texas Company were donated to the Police and the Rapid Response Squad in particular. If this claim is true, the expenditure may be minimally pardoned. In that wise, I also suggest here that if old orders made by states and the federal government cannot be withdrawn and the payments refunded for better use, then, the company and other similar companies abroad supplying Nigeria similar elitist products should be persuaded to replace the luxury brands with armored security vans, so that we could use them for anti-crime patrolling.
This, I suggest, should be followed with thorough investigation of the individuals that placed personal orders for these road machines. Since most of them are current or recently disengaged public officers, who want to contest elections in 2011, their source of income before, during and after their tenure should be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in order to determine if, without stealing public funds, they could afford such spicy luxury?
Some of them, who may claim to have established genuine businesses and means of funding such expensive vehicles, should still be stopped from acquiring them because, as far as I am concerned, their action is a clear testimony that they are preparing for war in 2011 elections.
We cannot, as a country, sit down, fold our arms and allow selfish money bags to further militarize our already threatened democracy.
Agreed, the state of insecurity in Nigeria is high but is greed, selfishness and such display of unmerited opulence of the privileged few not the primary causes of disaffection and the consequent determination of some to resort to militancy, kidnapping and such like? A better way of responding to the state of insecurity in Nigeria would be to tackle poverty, hunger, unemployment and to right the known wrongs against citizens.
Riding on array of bulletproof cars is, to me, a wrong and foolish strategy because it cannot save any wicked leader from the hands of the angry people. If anything, it will only help to identify the rider as one of the parasites in the society, who must be made a just target of the angry and deprived majority.
Source;
http://www.champion.com.ng/
Bulletproof-Car Craze And 2011 Elections
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