Collins Uma: Stella’s Goodluck (Y! FrontPage)

by Collins Uma

Collins

It would be a bit understandable if the protection Madam Minister sought was after a job well-done. Why spend N255 million to protect yourself when our airspace is still unsafe?

When Joe Obi, Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah’s Special Assistant on Media, made comments in an attempt to justify his principal’s acquisition of two bullet-proof BMW cars through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) I wonder what was going through his mind. Mr Obi stated that “It is true that some security vehicles were procured for the use of the office of the Honourable Minister in response to the clear and imminent threat to her personal security and life following the bold steps she took to reposition the sector”. This sounds to me like a very unwise statement, with due respect, Mr Obi. The transaction for the cars started in June, according to reports, to prevent a backlash from those affected by the ‘repositioning of the sector’ and in October – four months later – there was the Associated Airlines crash which killed several people. A few days later an IRS Airlines plane carrying 99 passengers made an emergency landing at the Kaduna airport. What ‘repositioning’ are you then talking about, Mr Obi? This is besides the fact that the acquisition is in total disregard of the nation’s procurement laws, as revealed at the House of Representatives hearing.

It would be a bit understandable if the protection Madam Minister sought was after a job well-done. Why spend N255 million to protect yourself when our airspace is still unsafe?

There is no gainsaying that this would not be the first time this minister, or any other in this administration, would be involved in shady deals. And it would not be the last. A scrutiny of the affairs of the agencies under the Ministry of Aviation will open cans of worms Minister Oduah would rather leave firmly shut. This is just one that got exposed.

If this had happened in another country a lot of heads would have rolled, administratively speaking. According to a recent BBC report, in South Africa the Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, announced tough measures to curb unnecessary spending by government officials as a result of widespread allegations of corruption and abuse of taxpayers’ money. Now, what are some of these allegations?

According to the report, “one recent example is Northern Cape’s new provincial government premier, Sylvia Lucas, who came in for strong criticism for spending around $5,000 on fast food purchases on a government credit card during her first 10 weeks in office.

In his last cabinet reshuffle, President Jacob Zuma fired Communications Minister Dina Pule following allegations that she had allowed her boyfriend to travel with her at the state’s expense.

Some government ministers have also been embroiled in allegations of rigging tenders in favour of friends.

Others have been accused of indulging themselves with cars costing more than $100,000, expensive tastes in wine and five-star accommodation and travel around the world”.

Mr Gordhan wasted no time in reading the riot-act to big spending government officials. He “trimmed the fat on travel perks, blew the bubbles out of excessive alcohol and banned the use of credit cards.

From 1 December, no alcohol will be served at government functions and spending on an event should not exceed $200, he said.

Also, government ministers and officials will have to fly economy class – no more first or business class – and in fewer numbers and frequency”.

Even the opposition politicians support this move. Opposition Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi believes this is “small money in the overall budget but it’s sending a strong message”.

This is what governance should be.

But this is Nigeria.

And our President is a man called Goodluck Jonathan.

This is Stella’s Goodluck.

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Collins Uma is a trained Sociologist with a bias for Developmental Sociology. He is a public affairs analyst and commentator. He is also a husband and father and an ordained Minister of the Gospel. Collins Uma tweets via @CollinsUma

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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