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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance (564 Views)
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Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Stancity(m): 7:21am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Long convoys of men with large egos I agree with Senator Ben Bruce on the need to reduce the length of executive convoys and I am happy Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State voluntarily reduced his own since assuming office last month. If you cost the typical Governor's convoy in Nigeria you will have at least N200m moving from place to place because of one man. Even when a governor is moving within the capital city of his state we see all manner of exotic and expensive cars in tow with siren blaring to scare the fearful. Each of those vehicles cost at least N10m to tax payers. Add the cost of fuel and sundry allowances to the protocol/ security team and you will get a sad picture. There is no need mentioning that outside Nigeria you don't see such rubbish. I once saw a British PM moving in his country with only the car he was in and another small security vehicle behind. In fact a friend had to point out to me that the man in the car was the PM. That the Queen of England still flies British Airways to wherever she is going is a well known fact. But here in Nigeria every state governor wants to fly private jet to common Abuja to attend unproductive meetings. If only you know what it cost to park an aircraft per day, talk less of cost of the aircraft, insurance, aviation fuel and crew salaries you will slap your private jet owning Governor. (If you slap am and his security men fire you....OYO) I don't see any compelling reason for a governor or even the President to have more than 4 vehicles in his convoy. Pilot car with security men, Governor's car, aides car and ambulance should be enough for inter town movements. Worst case, you add media agents vehicle. Don't tell me about protecting the Governor because I know for a fact that ex- Governor Peter Obi used to have the smallest convoy and yet governed for more than 8 years without anyone shooting him. He was even carrying his own bag to board commercial flights to Abuja and yet had time to unleash revolutionary leadership in his state. Anambra is still number 1 in education because of his efforts and yet you call them "illiterate traders"? (Satan is playing ludo with your brain) It appears to me that the size of a governor's convoy is as big as his ego. That also reflects on the Governor's choice of cars in the convoy. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu practically dropped his official SUV less than a week into his governorship and started joining a bus to work. Don't laugh at this: his reason for preferring the bus, I heard from "reliable sources", is that his official car has tinted glasses and he wants to be seeing his people and waving them when necessary. On one particular trip through a village he saw some folks waving him in the evening (around 6pm) and came down and joined them. He sat briefly on the bench with them and drank what they were drinking after exchanging local banters. One old man even had the "effrontery" to put his hands around his neck to whisper something to him and I couldn't help smile at the speed with which his security detail rushed to remove the man's hand. The funny part is that I didn't hear "His Excellency" or "Governor" from the small crowd. They were all saying "Okenzie...." (My Ngwa brothers pronounce his name as o k e n z i i e). Then I understood why he preferred Hiace bus to state of technology Landcruiser SUV. There are very small things our leaders can do to reduce cost and all of them must begin to do them. If you cut out little costs like that of long convoys and wasting money on expensive food and parties you will have money to do more roads and provide more jobs. I was shocked the day I went to Anambra State Government house under Mr Obi and there was no generator buzzing whereas there was no power from "NEPA". The official I was visiting within the premises told me the governor was out and hence no need to waste diesel money. I swung my head on one side, did the math and realized that the state must have saved some cool cash. Again, I continue to wonder what the retinue of security agents are doing around the governors. Do you really need more than 4 security agents to protect a governor if we have a functional security system that protects the masses? This particular issue endeared me to former Governor Amaechi before he started carrying broom of anger everywhere. A high profile technology company made presentations to him on how he can use technology to protect himself and key members of his administration in those days of kidnapping and criminal brigandage in the Niger Delta. Amaechi listened attentively to them and then calmly told them to develop the system to protect all Rivers people first because one day he will leave power and be one of them. He also lectured the wide eyed expert on how his security really depended on the security of the people because both are linked. In my head I clapped for him and thanked God for giving him wisdom. That was the essential Amaechi of 2007-2011 and frankly he was a good administrator with a wonderful team that included incorruptible gentleman Magnus Abe (SSG) alongside cerebral and youthful Sampson Parker. Governor Nyesom Wike was also part of that team as Chief of Staff. Amaechi's "transformation" started much later when he forgot the people and clinged to the media to fight his personal wars. I still wonder if Amaechi completed 3 projects between 2012 and 2014. He apparently spent his second term playing full time politics to the detriment of administering his state. (Una see how market dey now) If the police stations are working and have good communication equipment they can actually appear at emergency locations within 2 minutes of distress calls. Give them functional digital radios and vehicles then train and pay them well and you will see them perform wonders. Oyibo police no dey carry juju do their work. Just good communication systems with full integration for operational efficiency. With improved power supplies you can add CCTVs at flash points to observe 247 and prevent crimes. Most importantly, create jobs for our youths through the deployment of home grown skill acquisition schemes. The money saved from long convoys and wasteful life styles can create as much 5000 jobs and remove 5000 potential criminals from our prisons and criminal justice system. Change is not only about doing big things, sloganeering or decreeing "CHANJI" but rather, in my view, about changing little things like the size of a Governor's convoy to save cost. |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Boyoboy9(m): 7:23am On Jun 26, 2015 |
When I heard about Okezie Ikpeazu's humility towards d people who voted against him because they believed he was T.A Orji 's puppet, then I remembered my mum always told me that it wasn't were u expect to fall d falling would come from. Sai Ikpeazu |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Stancity(m): 7:31am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Boyoboy9:You don run grab first seat.. Oya tell us about ur state via the matter.. |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Edwardhead(m): 7:47am On Jun 26, 2015 |
[size=15pt]yaaawwwnnn[/size] |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Boyoboy9(m): 7:50am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Stancity:Amaechi had an almost perfect govt but must be probed for his total neglect during his personal and broom waving second tenure. Sai Wike |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Stancity(m): 8:18am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Boyoboy9:hahaha Are u from Abia? |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Boyoboy9(m): 8:30am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Stancity:No, am from Rivers but live in Abia |
Re: Still On The Matter-- Change/saving Cost Of Governance by Stancity(m): 1:29pm On Jun 26, 2015 |
Boyoboy9:Ok na. |
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