#ShortThoughts: Presidential Visits & Nigerian Police Signposts

Back then in Lagos, whenever there was a heavy traffic gridlock on the Island where I stayed, especially from Bonny Camp snaking along Ozumba Mbadiwe splitting through Bar Beach to Adeola Odeku, Akin Adesola towards the Falomo bridge and all the way to Kingsway Road. 

The only plausible reasons were either Flood caused by rains or The President or Wife was in town and if the latter was the case, everyone resigned themselves to fate and murmured profusely at the insensitivity of the public office holders to the welfare of the citizens who elected them. The same thing happens in mostly cities like Port Harcourt and Enugu; two locations I have had the privilege of residing. For residents of Enugu state, whenever you notice policemen on the major streets, at least more than 5 and their presence there was not as a result of their stop-and-search roadblock, then something is indeed amiss. 

When President Jonathan has reasons to be in town for a rally (he never came for a commissioning ironically) it was normal to see Policemen in their numbers standing aimlessly like erected signposts along the Airport Road-Naira Triangle-Thinkers Corner-82 Div-Ogui Junction-Shoprite-Tunnel-Ogui Road or Ogui Junction -Otigba Junction- New Haven Junction-Bisalla  -Road – Parks & Jerk- Govt House – Okpara Square corridors. In their new Blue & Black uniforms, you see them line the routes like the driver of the convoy needed them to stand as landmark for directions. 

At such a time, it seems the entire police force in the state were pulled from where they were and placed in the sun to “honor” the President and ignore the citizens they were employed to serve and protect. As at the time of writing this article, the Wife of the President (and not the First Lady) is in Enugu on a visit which wasn’t publicized and purpose I don’t really fathom, hosted by the First Lady of Enugu State (Or is it Wife of the Governor) who has been hidden from public glare and whose existence has been the subject of much controversy post-election. Well, Madam Buhari is in town, welcome Ma, I am happy your visit to Enugu was not only the historic crossing of cultures, but of party lines also. Please enjoy the scenic view of this over 100 year old city and the parade of human signposts in blue and black  lining our streets to welcome you. Thats how we roll!