Lagos: Buhari's Visit And The Inconveniences
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari today paid a working visit to Lagos state, the commercial hub of the nation.
The visit, whose consequence was a public holiday declared by the state government, afforded the president to among other things commission some projects built by the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, which include a Ikeja Bus terminal.
President Buhari also used the occasion of his visit to attend the 10th annual colloquium of the national leader of the ruling APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which was to mark his 66th birthday.
As is always the case, especially within this clime, this heavy august visit did not come without the associated inconveniences which easy-going ordinary citizens are subjected to. Just as was the case with previous presidential visits, the visit of Buhari came with much pressure on commuters and air travellers alike.
Apart from the incontinences caused by roads diversion, flights were delayed as the entire landing and road spaces were reserved for the commander-in-chief of the most populous black nation. The state police command had 24hours before announced diversions on areas like Airport road, Bank Anthony and Agege bypass, which seemingly were popular routes reserved for presidential ride.
The visit of President Buhari to Lagos and the orchestrated traffic inconveniences brings to view the question of whether it is in this manner that we've been meant to be. The manner that there must be shutting of roads, diversions and gridlocks whenever a notable government figure comes visiting.
Must there be inconveniences? Must the people gnaw in discomfort seemingly because their president or governor or first lady comes visiting?
It was sometimes in 2011 that then president Goodluck Jonathan came to Lagos on similar visit. And what happened? Similar scenarios played out, of people been subjected to evidently unwarranted inconveniences. The same was the case when his wife and then first lady, Patience visited Portharcourt in 2014.
What can we say of this rather sordid situation that has become a culture within our way of living. One thing very significantly disheartening is the fact that this show of discomfiting shame is happening under Buhari.
Need we remember that at that time when power that intoxicated oozed from Jonathan and endeared the roads to be blocked and diverted for his sake, causing untold discomfort to citizens, the APC, the very party of today's Buhari condemned and rightly too the gridlock.
Yes, in such visit, security is of such concern. But then, can't the security aspect be ensured in much more civil and appropriate aspects? How many entourage will accompany such visit that the roads and airport can't contain when others are using them? How large is the president? How incapable are his security to effectively manage him and such vicissitudes? How much more shameful can the inconveniences cauded be?
Indeed, it is horrendous what has become of the situation; of where the condemner is been condemned. It is one so pathetic.
The visit, whose consequence was a public holiday declared by the state government, afforded the president to among other things commission some projects built by the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, which include a Ikeja Bus terminal.
President Buhari also used the occasion of his visit to attend the 10th annual colloquium of the national leader of the ruling APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which was to mark his 66th birthday.
As is always the case, especially within this clime, this heavy august visit did not come without the associated inconveniences which easy-going ordinary citizens are subjected to. Just as was the case with previous presidential visits, the visit of Buhari came with much pressure on commuters and air travellers alike.
Apart from the incontinences caused by roads diversion, flights were delayed as the entire landing and road spaces were reserved for the commander-in-chief of the most populous black nation. The state police command had 24hours before announced diversions on areas like Airport road, Bank Anthony and Agege bypass, which seemingly were popular routes reserved for presidential ride.
The visit of President Buhari to Lagos and the orchestrated traffic inconveniences brings to view the question of whether it is in this manner that we've been meant to be. The manner that there must be shutting of roads, diversions and gridlocks whenever a notable government figure comes visiting.
Must there be inconveniences? Must the people gnaw in discomfort seemingly because their president or governor or first lady comes visiting?
It was sometimes in 2011 that then president Goodluck Jonathan came to Lagos on similar visit. And what happened? Similar scenarios played out, of people been subjected to evidently unwarranted inconveniences. The same was the case when his wife and then first lady, Patience visited Portharcourt in 2014.
What can we say of this rather sordid situation that has become a culture within our way of living. One thing very significantly disheartening is the fact that this show of discomfiting shame is happening under Buhari.
Need we remember that at that time when power that intoxicated oozed from Jonathan and endeared the roads to be blocked and diverted for his sake, causing untold discomfort to citizens, the APC, the very party of today's Buhari condemned and rightly too the gridlock.
Yes, in such visit, security is of such concern. But then, can't the security aspect be ensured in much more civil and appropriate aspects? How many entourage will accompany such visit that the roads and airport can't contain when others are using them? How large is the president? How incapable are his security to effectively manage him and such vicissitudes? How much more shameful can the inconveniences cauded be?
Indeed, it is horrendous what has become of the situation; of where the condemner is been condemned. It is one so pathetic.
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