Already, words are out there that over N5bn has been spent on the Buhari constant shuttles till date. Now, how does the loud silence in Aso Rock help the matter? Beyond the feeble argument that the President prioritises the expected gains that would accrue to the country before hugging the skies, the new vista of transparency and accountability compells a more open system in which the populace is availed of the financial liability or otherwise of such journeys. That is yet to be done by a government that holds aloft the flag of change. But then, is it not our democracy?
Buffeted by a rash of criticisms over the secrecy surrounding the delivery of 38 Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps at an inflated price of N35.1 million each to some lawmakers in the upper legislative chamber, the leadership of the Senate quickly came up with a statement justifying the purchase. Ordinarily, if the Sunday Trust had not scooped the story, I doubt if the Senator Bukola Saraki-led Senate would have bothered to offer any explanation no matter how tendentious. By the way, this is not the first time exotic cars would be purchased at inflated prices in the National Assembly or even The Presidency. It has become a norm. It formed the major fulcrum of the allegations the then Hon. Dino Melaye levelled against Speaker Dimeji Bankole some years back. The issue of bloated figures in car purchase is a recurring decimal in the lives of successive leaderships in the two legislative chambers. You may then want to know what could be responsible for the outcry over this latest transaction. The answer is simple. The Saraki leadership promised to publish the details of the N120bn appropriated by it through direct line charge. It was in line with its commitment to embrace change and make the legislature more accountable to the people.
Unfortunately, the National Assembly has refused to walk its talk. The leaderships of both chambers continue with the old practice of locking the details in the closet. As I write this, the House of Representatives is on the verge of purchasing 360 ‘utility’ vehicles worth N3.6bn for all its members who had earlier collected millions of naira as car loan last year. Of course, the usual excuse is that such cars are for oversight functions and not for the private use of individual members.
That is crass baloney. If the general public and organised labour had not threatened a showdown with these over-pampered set of Nigerians, it was doubtful if the Chairman, Senate Services, Ibrahim Gobir, would have justified why the cars suddenly became a necessity. By the way, his argument that 36 Toyota Land Cruiser VXR V8 were bought at N36.5 million each and that the fund was appropriated in the 2015 budget reeks of scented lie. Could the 2015 budget had forecast a more than 100 per cent increase in the value of the dollar to the Naira in 2016? In any case, no one has ever sighted the breakdown of the N150bn the Senator David Mark-led Senate appropriated for itself in 2015. So, how could anyone trust Gobir’s defence? It is also trite illogic for Gobir to argue that the N1.314bn utility vehicles would be ‘shared’ among the three senators from the state.
So, the Federal Capital Territory is no longer at par with the states” Some lies do not just stick. They expose the rot within. In the same vein, Gobir’s ‘moderate’ price of N36.5bn per exotic toy for the lawmakers does not make any economic sense because such bulk purchase normally comes with appreciable discount.
In this case, it appears those who made the transaction left their bargaining chip at home. Lest I forget, did the Senator just remind us that the purchase was made legitimately with the 2015 appropriation? So, what would happen to the N4.7bn the Senate reportedly set aside in the yet-to-be-signed 2016 Budget to buy vehicles for its members out of which Senator Saraki had already spent over N300m to upgrade his official fleet? I am sure the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, must also have benefitted from the fleet upgrade too. Instead of struggling with the truth and hiding the humongous shame behind one leprous finger, wouldn’t it have been better if Gobir had simply told us that the other senators would soon take delivery of their car gift? After all, have we not come to accept the fact that this car matter has become a routine rather than an exception to the rule?
But then, what does a musing journalist know about democracy, its norms and the abuse of power? Nothing other than to engage a wailing pen to speak to the deaf. Pity.
NATION
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