Laws are made and enforced to enhance orderliness and peaceful coexistence among citizens. But what would you say when those who are supposed to implement the law become the offenders? Patrick Ofikwu writes.
Every nation has a set of rules and regulations that governs the affairs of its citizens to avoid everyone doing things in their own ways. A nation without laws is bound to be chaotic as what some people may do, as it seems good in their eyes, may impinge on the rights of others.
It is also often said that everyone has the right to swing his hands but has no right to swing them into somebody’s eyes. When that happens, it becomes the violation of the individual’s rights. Hence, one’s rights stop where another’s rights begin.
Nigeria as a nation permits driving on the right hand side. Hence, it becomes an offence to drive on the left as it is against traffic laws. Many Nigerians have been arrested and/ or fined for this.
However, many law enforcers – the Army, Police officers and other security personnel – who are supposed to be the custodians and enforcers of the law, are the ones violating it.
A man who claimed anonymity said, “It is not only the violation of the law that is even the matter. As they go, they would be blaring their siren and horn to scare away other road users. Whenever I see such, I often assume that it is a team on security alert but alas, it is usually a lone-officer driving recklessly on the road.
“In fact, it is a common sight to see them drive against traffic along Nyanya-AYA Road during the rush hours, both in the morning when going to work and in the evening when workers are returning home. Civilians often seize the opportunity to follow them in driving against traffic too. Sometimes also, they don’t even obey traffic light when they turn red. Or, are they above the law?”
It would be recalled that in July 2012, the former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, accosted two senior Army officers for driving on the lane dedicated to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) according to Lagos traffic laws even when the ex-governor himself was held in the traffic but chose not to violate traffic rules.
Colonel K.I. Yusuf drove an Army Green Peugeot 406 while Staff Sergeant A.J. Adeomi drove a black Toyota Camry. Perhaps, realising the problem that could follow, Yusuf reportedly alighted from his car and saluted Fashola repeatedly, saying, he was very sorry.
But the ex-governor instead asked, “Why, as a senior military officer, did you choose to break the law instead of preserving it?” Fashola expressed dismay that those who should show discipline and professionalism were the ones violating the BRT regulation.
He, indeed, received an avalanche of accolades from many Nigerians for being a good boss who chose to be a law abiding citizen in a difficult moment, willing to experience what many other non-elite Nigerians in major cities go through almost on a daily basis.
The incident drew the attention of commuters and other passers-by who reportedly commended the governor for showing good leadership.
Another area where people who are supposed to be law enforcers turn law breakers is that of road traffic management and vehicle inspection. While vehicle inspection officers often accuse other road users that their vehicles are not road-worthy, they are sometimes culpable of the same offence. In fact, the vehicles some of these officers use are begging for attention. Some of them look squeezed as if they have been involved in accident several times but never taken to the panel-beater’s shop.
It is also a known fact that the use of motorcycles popularly called ‘Okada’ is banned in many major cities across Nigeria, especially state capitals and Abuja, the Federal capital Territory, to ease traffic flow. However, it is common to see security agents riding bikes in such cities undeterred, especially Lagos and the FCT. But civilians when use them, they are often arrested and their bikes seized. Many bike riders have lost their bikes as a result of this.
A young man in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, who simply gave his name as Sunday said, he has lost two of his motorcycles to security agents on patrol in Abuja. According to him, they were seized at the AYA area of the FCT. When the first was taken, he didn’t make further efforts towards recovering it but in the second instance, he followed up only to be told some days later that the bike had been burnt.
“I live in Mararaba but work in the city centre (Abuja). I often ride bike to work because I can’t afford a car at the moment. Moreover, the bike helps me to overcome the usual traffic gridlock along Mararaba-Abuja Road; thus saving many man-hours often lost to traffic hold-ups.
“The first time, they seized my machine (motorcycle) around AYA. I pleaded for pardon but they refused to release it to me, so I let it go.
“I took a loan and bought another one but not long after, they arrested me again. This time, I followed up for days. I was later told by an officer I was begging to assist me that I should not bother about the bike any longer. According to him, they had poured fuel on my machine and burnt it. I was sad. I know it was wrong to use bike in the city centre but what about security personnel using machines in the city?
“I know they didn’t burn it. May be they take these seized bikes to their home-states, give them to their kinsmen or that is the type you see them riding in the town. The painful thing is that, I didn’t even carry passengers so that they may claim that I am an ‘Okada’ rider.
“Is the ban on motorcycles only for the poor masses and the so-called ‘bloody-civilians?’ No wonder, it is allegedly said that political bigwigs said Abuja is not a place for the poor,” he stated.
When contacted, the police public relations officer, FCT command, Mr Anjuguri Manzah, said he was unaware that security personnel drive against traffic or use motorcycles in the city centre but promised to investigate the matter.
It is good to note that, in order to win public trust, it is good for law enforcement agents to ensure that they act within the ambit of the law. It is only then that the country would have a trusted security force and indeed, reliable law enforcers.
