Senate’s Purchase Of Suvs For Members A Show Of Crass Insensitivity

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26 (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Senate has been subject of public discussion, over its decision to purchase exotic cars for its members in the face of biting economic crunch. Close watchers assert that their hitherto plan is in brazen disregard of the nation's bleeding economic realities and growing poverty in the land.

Stakeholders had repeatedly called on them to shelve the plan, stressing that as the peoples’ representatives, the aggregate view of their constituents (which is against the purchase) ought to prevail. Despite the public outcry, however, the Upper Chamber proceeded to effect its plan without care about being perceived as utterly disconnected from the people who sent them to Abuja.

Coming at a time when the economy of the nation is at a downward spiral with the singsong being the need to be prudent in the management of the nation’s meager resources, THEWILL is baffled that the Senate would be more concerned about maximizing their comfort through the procurement of luxury vehicles.

It is worrisome that 109 senators, out of the 170 million estimated population of Nigeria, could choose to shamelessly thread such gluttonous path, at a time that the average Nigerian is dying from poverty, hunger and deprivation, coupled with the collapse of virtually all public infrastructures.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Services, Abdullahi Gobir, put the value of each of the Land Cruiser VXR V8 SUVs at $90,000. He also added that contrary to popular belief, the Senate only bought 36 units, one each for either a committee chairman or vice, as they stand across the 36 states of the federation.

Be that as it may, the entire action smacks of gross display of insensitivity and impunity. It’s decision to go for foreign brands, with the attendant foreign exchange implications is most infuriating. It is unpatriotic for public officers to have refused to patronise a local car manufacturer, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, which had offered to supply the SUVs at much cheaper rates.

Assuming that it is most expedient for the controversial SUVs to have been procured, sourcing them locally would have helped in promoting the ‘buy Nigeria’ culture, which the Federal Government is ballyhooing and which a member of the Senate went to the extreme in promoting by advising men to also marry made-in-Nigeria women.

THEWILL condemns the unimaginable procurement of exotic cars for Senators whose garage is stocked with similar automobiles as an extension of the traditional sharp practices and corruption that have become of governance over time. While the procurement Act was reportedly compromised in the transaction, the contract was allegedly awarded to a local car dealer, Lanre Shittu Motors.

We call on stakeholders to work assiduously towards giving bite to the power of the electorate to recall elected representatives who have proven to be self-serving and insensitive, since the power in the people trumps that of the people in power.

Civil society groups, media and Nigerians in general must live up to their responsibilities by piling pressure on members of the National Assembly to be more patriotic and sensitive, steadily reminding them that they are at the chambers at the behest of the people. This will go a long way in curbing these legislative insensitivity and flagrant display of greed.

THEWILL is also aware that this reprehensible act of the Senate is also replicated at other arms and tiers of government, including the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDA. It behooves the people to identify and condemn leaders who are abusing the public offices they occupy to enrich themselves and cronies. We believe that holding such officers to account will indeed free up more resources that would be used for the good of all.

It is in this light that THEWILL welcomes the recent disclosure by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that former and serving public office holders will henceforth be required to account for their wealth. “The era of people becoming emergency billionaires is gone,” he stated at a town hall recently, “Anybody who can’t explain his wealth must be brought to account. Everyone who has served in public office must account for what they own.”

This is exactly what we expect government to do and the Senate, nay National Assembly, in the spirit of Checks and Balances, must join this crusade of ensuring accountability among public office holders so that Nigerians and Nigeria can excel again.