*SHOW OF SHAME*


If you are a regular public bus commuter in Lagos, there is a tragedy of ignominious proportions that you would have witnessed. It is a gross abuse of power that quite parallels the one perpetrated by our infamous politicians.


The life of a public bus driver or conductor is not one to wish for. The high toll fee collected by the NURTW is an unjustified extortion of hardworking citizens, not considering the bad roads, awful traffic and the not quite resolved fluctuations in fuel prices that militate against transporters and their business in Lagos.


The aforementioned factors are nothing to be compared to the abuse of power that has turned out to be a show of shame in the embarrassing behavior displayed by officers of the nation's security agencies (soldeirs and policemen) when they board public buses and quite often, refuse to pay their fare. They refer to themselves as "staff", whatever that may imply.


The questions that beg for answers are these - they are staff of which organisation? Are they the only people (public officials) employed by the government?


This incongruous behavior must stop! Security officials are normal citizens and should in no way exact undue privilege from poorer or less empowered citizens. They should pay up their fare when they board public buses.


This act clearly depicts the highest form of corruption buoyed our almost non-existent awareness of the rights of the citizenry protected by the law - which these so called 'staff' have sworn to uphold. A new Nigeria begins with security officials paying their dues like every other citizen of this great nation which they are. No one, even the weapon-carrying officers of the Nigerian Army/Police Force is exempted from their prerogative to abide by the principles of justice and equity in business activities.


*Adewumi Adedeji*
*Write from Lagos*
*08082790452*
*@Adewumiadedeji17*
*Dejijupiter@gmail.com*
*#D'PresidentDiary.*