It would have been rather “business as usual”, had this lingered security vulnerabilities, in most of our nearly-dilapidated Motor-parks, Bus/Couch stations, which are often patronized by the average and down trodden citizens of Nigeria, still been operated, under the careless watch of the former “failed” and democratically-ousted administration of president Good luck Ebele Jonathan, under the PDP tyrannical regime of the “dark ages” of our recent past, keen observers would have little or no concern at all, in calling to the deaf and dumb ears of then rulers and looters, to restore the full security rights and dignity, which the Nigerian constitution had aptly, afforded every citizen of this great Nation.
But alas!
The bombings had continued to happen even after the assumption of President Buhari’s no-nonsense-leadership and the much expectations of the promise of Change, his party, the APC, had wooed Nigerian masses to vote them into power. Of course, the masses did vote APC, for they had believed and would continue to believe, that President Buhari would come to their aid, not only in protecting their lives and properties against senseless killers and murderers, but to also, put a big smiles on their faces via good use of their endowed natural and human resources, to bring about rapid development and prosperity in Nigeria.
With such high expectations, Nigerians are starting to become wary of security agent’s excuses, why would a fenced-vicinity, such as the Marketplaces and Motor-parks, continue to be a cheap-target for orchestrating/actualising criminal atrocities, without the government taking tangibly effective actions to reverse the trends of gory scenes in our Motor-parks. Discerning Nigerians are also starting to question the porosity of waiting, for four years of APC’s change through “good governance”, only after being bombed, maimed and or killed at the Motor-parks and or other public places. Obviously, that is not the change, the masses had bargained for, or was it?
With the sad records we had had so far, of hundreds of Nigerians killed in Motor-parks and Marketplaces via criminal acts of bombings, as had been witnessed repeatedly, in Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Maiduguri - to name a few places, which are all located in the North. And what concrete measure had we taken to stop such callous acts? Nothing! And isn't that unbelievably senseless and irresponsible? That was the reality I had personally witness at the Motor-park I visited last Sunday (2nd August 2015), in Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State, some 5-10 minutes’ drive from Abuja.
The Motor-park, popularly known as “tipper garage” which is situated, diagonally opposite the new Karu International Market, along the express road, connecting Masaka, Mararaba, Nyanya to Abuja city. This is a Motor-park, situated not far away, from the Nyanya Motor-park that was ravaged with explosives, last year - during the tenure of the PDP regime of the World certified “failed President”, Good luck Ebele Jonathan. Interestingly, the “tipper garage” Motor-park at Karu, serves mostly, people travelling to the Northeastern region, especially those travelling to Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi via Jos axis. I was at the Motor-park to accompany some of my Family members to book and board commercial vehicle travelling to Yola.
Is Provision of Security The Exclusive Rights of The Elites And Not Inclusive of The Masses?
This was the sterling question that keeps popping out of my mind, having noticed, the zero, zilch, zip, nada, nothing of security-presence at the Motor-park situated, stone-thrown-away from Abuja, the Federal capital and the seat of power of the most populous and largest economy in Africa. Not only there was no security presence, the people at the park, except for the few hawkers who wear a smile to probably woo customers to buy their hand-carried products, most of the people in the park, wear crossed and gloomy faces and their body languages, particularly, the facial expressions, speak volumes of the fear and uncertainty with which they stay at, or transit via the Motor-park. This is the situation, I have personally witnessed and confirmed via interaction with people at the park – who mostly, confirmed my earlier assertions/assumptions of fear of insecurity that dominated their minds. And we can rightly imagine how worse the situation could be in other Motor-parks that are located, far away from the FCT. Throughout my stay, from the time we’ve arrived, the Motor-park, some few minutes past six a.m., up until about 9:00am, when the second vehicle departed to Yola, we’ve seen no security presence, let alone scanning and or checking people and their luggage.
However, on our way back to Abuja city, we’ve seen the presence of soldiers on the road-sides, deployed to clear-off traffic build up along the express way – an excellent effort that must be commended and for which a lot of people plying the Nyanya express way had been commending the new administration for easing the unnecessary traffic jam, hawkers and other road-side traders had been bugging motorists on that route for quite a long time.
But as earlier mentioned, throughout my stay at the Motor-park in reference, I have not seen any security personnel; be it the Police, private security agents, DSS; let alone seeing sniffer dogs, scanners and or any other security gadgets, meant for safeguarding people, being used by anyone.
My curiosity and concerned was not just passive, I had to query and interview some of the Motor-park officials/workers. And the answer I got was the usual: “it is only God that is protecting us”!
Very faithful, submissive and powerful answer, I must reckon. For indeed God Almighty is the protector of all, including those who are paid to protect us. This fact was recently emphasised, when a delegation of well-wishers paid President Buhari a Sallah visit at the Presidential Villa, recalling the crowd of people trying to take a glimpse of him after observing his first Eidul Fitr prayers in Abuja, after becoming the first democratically elected leader, who ousted an incumbent President in Nigeria,
While it is highly commendable to become, constantly and faithfully conscious of giving credence and praises to God Almighty for His infinite grace and mercy, upon us; however, it is absurdly hypocritical to hide under God, to subtly express inexcusable excuses of (wittingly or unwittingly), perpetrating or promoting what God Almighty Himself and the entire civil societies had hate – i.e. injustice and criminal segregation of people based on class. That is subtly saying: the elites who use Airports deserved state’s protection, while those who use the Motor-parks do not deserved state’s protection. Isn't this the reality in Nigeria?
Is President Muhammadu Buhari Aware of This Sad Reality In Nigeria?
This injustice must be corrected for our Government to be seen to be nurturing and promoting, a just, fair and egalitarian society - where all people would be cared for equally, so as to make them have a sense of belonging and equality before the law.
Since, the assumption of President Buhari’s leadership, barely two months ago, this would be my first article dedicated to pointing out a lingering and very dangerous insecurity loophole that must be addressed immediately. And this is in harmony with realists' cravings to discourage or stop what is deemed as injustice or corruption of some sort. And when good things are equally observed, then it becomes equally right to encourage such good acts, and many of my previous articles were focused on promoting the candidature and leadership aspirations of President Muhammadu Buhari, for, like many Nigerians, I believed in him and his capacity to lead Nigeria, fairly and justly and bring it the much needed peace and development - by God’s grace.
And of course, we are aware of the monstrous security challenges and the daunting tasks ahead of the PMB administration, in securing our Nation, particularly, the troubled Northeast. However, to most of us - realists and critical observers, it is unfathomable to excuse any Government who had resources and goodwill to protect our Airports and the elite class that patronized it, but failed to do so for our Motor-parks, which is patronized, mostly by the general masses. As reiterated earlier, these callous attacks in public places, were severally repeated, leaving a lot of innocent people killed and maimed for none of their fault, except being unable to travel by Air and or travelling by road was the only viable option they had. To all discerning people, we know that this injustice or inequality before the law is a continuation of the previous PDP administration’s tyrannical disservice that still remains, largely unchanged and unchallenged since PMB assumed power. Therefore, let the current administration of APC headed by PMB, reflect and act swiftly on the following posers. For it is high time for the masses of this country to start enjoying security at the Motor-parks and Marketplaces, like their elites do at the Airports, Supermarkets, Malls etc. Here are the posers:
• What is the moral, legal, economic and business justifications and or benefit of securing our Airports, while abandoning our Motor-parks?
• Aren’t we subtly, telling the World, that we indeed lack the moral-compass, political-will and business-sense to transform our Motor-parks into World-class travelling hub where passengers and stake holders are not only secured and comfortable, but also the Government and its partners could make equal or more money than are made in some Airports in Nigerian?
• And why can’t PMB challenges and tasks our business strategists to take up the challenges of transforming our Motor-parks and land transportation in general, and ensuring that they are fully supported and monitored?
Consequently, it is hoped that, the foregoing candid security, economic and business observations/posers inspired by our Motor-parks' predicaments, would achieve its aims of drawing the attention of the President and all other concerns to: firstly, consider the merits, justification/benefits and moral satisfactions that shall be achieved/enjoyed, when these security vulnerabilities, economic opportunities and people’s oriented service in our Motor-parks/marketplaces, are respectively and effectively reversed and explore for all citizens to enjoy and become more protected at such public venues that registers thousands of masses on a daily basis.
To this end, we do not need to remind PMB, that it is the masses that massively voted for him, unlike so many elites, who obviously had been against, he becoming the President of this great Nation.
Similarly, we do not need to remind PMB, as well, that it is the core responsibility of any Government to protect all its citizens irrespective of class, ethnicity or region. Nigerians voted-out PDP mainly, on failings to be just and fair to all Nigerians.
It is an indisputable fact that previous military regimes, as well as the PDP administration, had taken the Nigerian masses for granted. For instance, is it not a fact that previous government had in the past, awarded huge contracts, worth millions of US Dollars, to build and secure our Federal Airports? But had the past Government been able to secure our Motor-parks and make them impenetrable for terrorists to carry-in bombs and detonate same - set aside awarding contracts to build a World class, fit-for-purpose Motor-parks, in every state of the Federation, so as to make the masses feel cared for, instead of caring for the elites alone? Mind you, no one should go against the elite class, as we are also hopeful of joining them soon to enjoy all the eliteous (if i can coin that) joys they have been enjoying.
And by the way, we are very optimistic that President Buhari’s administration, shall not allow that ugly trends of insecurity to continue, being that road transportation, at present, is the major, affordable means by which Nigerian masses travel within the country to conduct their legitimate businesses and Motor-parks and marketplaces are where these journeys and businesses are initiated, enjoyed and terminated. As earlier mentioned, Nigerians had been bombed and killed not once, twice or thrice and quite substantial number of people died through carelessness and or negligence in providing basic security provisions. This is quite unnerving and it takes only a senseless government to do nothing in reversing the trends of insecurity in our Motor-parks and market places and we are hopeful that this would not continue and would be unacceptable to President Buhari’s regime.
Our Motor-parks Deserved More Than Security:
Provision of adequate security of course must be our first priority in our Motor-parks and Marketplaces, which is rightly, the essence of writing this article. And beyond securing our road transport hubs nation-wide, which PMB should consider as a quick wins for his administration’s first 100 days or so in office; so as to ensure that adequate security is provided in all our Motor-parks. For we have no any legitimate reason to allow any Nigerian to die from criminal acts, such as bombing, while at the Motor-park, just as there are no justifications for our elites to witness or suffer same calamities at our Airports.
As for the untapped, economic, business opportunities and political good will that could be harvested from designing and building World-class Federal Motor-parks nation-wide; PMB should immediately, start assembling bright business out-looking professionals to come up with a viable business plan of transforming or building new Motor-parks that are, not only safe and comfortable hub for travelers, but also a convenient World-class profitable partnership ventures that can benefits all investors (be it Government, Private and or Public Private Partnership).
Obviously, this is an area that PMB should consider as a quick wins for his Administration and that of his party - the APC.
Let our Motor-parks be safe, comfortable and convenient for masses to enjoy their travel experiences, which mostly begins and ends at the Motor-parks. And Nigerians would be more grateful for the wise choice they had made in voting-out PDP for APC and its great leader in person of the great President Muhammdu Buhari. A stitch in time saved nine.
Salihu Garba
3rd August 2015
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