There
are indications that some governors, their wives and deputy governors have
continued to ride in expensive bulletproof vehicles in spite of the biting
economic recession in the country.
Investigations
revealed that the number of bulletproof vehicles in the convoy of 14 state
governors, their deputies and wives is close to 100 while the citizens have
been struggling to enjoy daily meals.
Findings
revealed that the average cost of an armoured vehicle is about N75m. The cost
could be more, depending on the level of armour recommended or requested by the
buyer, and such depends on the location of use and the type of threat the owner
is guarding against.
According
to JPA Armouring Group, an armoured vehicle manufacturer in Germany, the cost
of a bulletproof 2014 Lexus LX 570 starts from €192,000 (N89.3m), an armoured
2015 Toyota Prado starts from €125,000 (N58.1), while the cost of an armoured
Toyota Land Cruiser starts from €149,000 (N69.2m), excluding shipping costs.
Another
armoured vehicle manufacturer, Texas Armoring Corporation, in the United
States, says armoured vehicles needed in West African countries tend to be more
expensive and buyers from the region are often advised to adopt the T6
protection level because high-powered rifles are the predominant weapons used
by criminals there.
Interestingly,
many governors that have yet to pay their workers’ salaries for many months and
who are blaming their inability to pay them on the dwindling monthly federal
allocation have enough money to buy these vehicles for themselves and the use
of their wives.
At
the beginning of the year, the Federal Government and states recorded a drop in
allocation from N387.77bn in December 2015 to N370.38bn in January 2016 when
oil prices fell from $43.4 per barrel to $39.
In
March 2016, allocations from the Federation Account to the three tiers of
government declined by a whopping N18.2bn – from N299.74bn to N281.5bn,
according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
But
in spite of this, it was learnt that some of the governors, their deputies and
wives still maintain ostentatious lifestyles.
Investigations
showed that Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, and his deputy,
Mr. Nuhu Gidado, have three bulletproof cars. A security source attached to the
state Government House told one of our correspondents that while the governor
uses two bulletproof cars, his deputy uses one.
The
source said, “I can confirm that Governor Abubakar has two bulletproof cars
while the deputy governor has one. The governor inherited two bulletproof Prado
sport utility vehicles from his predecessor, Isa Yuguda.
“But
just about a month ago, a new bulletproof car was acquired by the state
government. The newly acquired bulletproof car is a Mercedes Benz 4matic. This
car has yet to be put into use.”
The
security source, however, said the governor and his deputy might need the
bulletproof cars because of the precarious security situation in the state.
He
said, “I don’t think there is anything wrong with the governor and his deputy
using bulletproof cars. Definitely, they need these special cars because of the
security situation in the country.”
The
Senior Special Assistant to the Bauchi State Governor on Media, Sabo Mohammed,
admitted that both Abubakar and his deputy, Gidado are currently using
bulletproof vehicles but said the cars were inherited from the past
administration.
He,
however, denied the recent purchase of a brand new Mercedes Benz 4matic
bulletproof car by the state government.
When
asked about the newly acquired bulletproof car by the state government, he
laughed saying “how did you know that?”
“I
can tell you without mincing words that the state has not bought any new
bulletproof car for the governor. It is not true. I only read that of Kogi
State recently but not in Bauchi,” Mohammed said.
It
was learnt that there are no fewer than six bulletproof vehicles in the fleet
of the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
A
security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, listed the vehicles as
three Mercedes Benz product, a bus, G-Class, and a 4matic and two Toyota Land
cruisers.
It
was also gathered that the state deputy governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, has
one armoured Toyota Land cruiser.
But
the Consultant on Information to Osun State Government, Mr. Sunday Akere, said
he doubted that the governor had armoured cars in his fleet.
He
said, “I can’t confirm that the governor has bulletproof cars. If at all there
are bulletproof cars among his vehicles, they might be the ones he met in the
Government House before he became the governor.”
Findings
also showed that Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has at least four
bulletproof vehicles. This is in addition to four others used by his deputy,
Prof. Ivara Esu, and the wife of the governor, Dr. Lynda Ayade.
Investigations
revealed that the bulletproof cars in the pool of the governor’s convoy include
a 2015 Range Rover Vogue, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (2015), BMW 7 series (2015)
and Toyota Sequoia (2012).
The
deputy governor uses a Range Rover Vogue (2015) and a BMW 5 series (2014),
while the governor’s wife has a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (2015) and Lexus jeep
(2010) bulletproof vehicles.
The
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, did not respond to
calls and text messages sent to his mobile telephone.
A
security expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that it was
imperative for the governor and his deputy to use bulletproof vehicles because
of criminal activities in some parts of the state.
He
listed dangerous spots where the governor would, as a matter of necessity,
visit periodically to include Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas where
activities of militants had posed security threat for some time.
Findings
also showed that two bulletproof Ford Expedition SUVs were among the fleet of
the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari.
It
was learnt from a source in the government that the two vehicles were bought
last year shortly after the governor’s inauguration.
The
source said the condition of Nigerian roads and the general insecurity in the
country might have informed the governor’s choice of the vehicles.
Investigation,
however, revealed that the governor’s three wives were not permanently resident
in Katsina, but stayed in Kaduna and Abuja and used to visit the state during
important celebrations.
Findings
further showed that no official vehicle was attached to the three wives, but it
was learnt that they use three vehicles, namely: Mercedes Benz “C’’ Class,
Honda (End of Discussion) and Peugeot 607.
A
Government House source said that the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko,
and his wife, Olukemi, have three bulletproof SUVs.
He
said, “The governor and his wife often use the bulletproof vehicles when they
travel out of the state or to attend social and official functions.
“The
governor was initially using a Toyota bulletproof car during his first term,
but later added the Lexus Jeep to his fleet after he was inaugurated for a
second term in office.”
The
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, and his wife were said to have two
bulletproof vehicles in their fleet.
The
Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jide
Orintusin, confirmed to one of our correspondents that the governor was using
the Toyota Land Cruiser bulletproof car he inherited from his predecessor, Dr.
Babangida Aliyu.
Orintusin,
however, said that buying a new bulletproof car was not the priority of the
governor now.
He
said, “We are interested in the well-being of our people especially in this
economic recession that is affecting the country. We do things in order of
importance; the happiness of our people is our concern.”
Similarly,
it was gathered that two armoured Mercedes Benz G-wagons were in the fleet of
the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Of
the about five exotic cars the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, is
using, the Range Rover and E-Class Mercedes Benz car among them were suspected
to be bulletproof cars. His wife, Omolewa’s Lexus SUV and Prado SUV were also
suspected to be bulletproof vehicles.
The
Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen
Akorede, declined to comment on whether any or all of the vehicles had
bulletproof facility.
“For
security reasons, I cannot answer that question,” he said.
In
Benue State, it was found
that the number of bulletproof vehicles currently available for the use of the
state governor, Samuel Ortom, his deputy and their spouses are 12.
It
was gathered that while Ortom and his wife are using five of the cars, the
deputy governor and his spouse use three.
A
source at the Government House said the immediate past governor, Gabriel
Suswam, left six bulletproof cars for Ortom, while Suswam inherited two from
the erstwhile governor, George Akume.
Investigation
revealed that the model and year of each of the bulletproof vehicles belonging
to Ortom are 2012 Mercedes Benz S550; 2015 Mercedes S550; two 2014 BMW 7
series; 2015 Lexus LX; two Toyota Land Cruiser and two 2013 Escalade.
A
Government House source said that each of the bulletproof vehicles cost between
N70m and N120m.
The
source added that Ortom bought two of the vehicles in addition to the eight
purchased by Suswam.
The
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, declined to comment on the
bulletproof vehicles.
He
said, ‘The question you put before me is purely security matter. Therefore, I
cannot comment on that because if I do, it means I am exposing my boss to
danger. It is not proper to ask me to tell you what kind of cars my governor is
using. So, it is not right for me to disclose such information.”
The
situation is the same in Enugu, Abia and Anambra states. It was gathered that
the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has three armoured cars in his
fleet. His Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu, has two armoured cars in his
fleet.
Ikpeazu,
whose convoy moves without siren, has one 2016 LX Lexus car, a Toyota land
cruiser XXRL 2016 and Toyota Land Cruiser XXL 2015, among others.
Reacting
to the development, the Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor on Media
and Publicity, Mr. Louis Amoke, said Ugwuanyi had been using the vehicles he
inherited from the previous administration in the state.
Amoke
said the governor had not bought any official vehicle for himself since he came
into office.
He
added that the need for bulletproof vehicles was a security matter that
concerns the Office of the Governor, and not necessarily the holder of the
office.
James
Eze, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Media, neither answered
calls made to his mobile telephone nor replied a text message sent to him.
Investigation
also showed that Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has 10 vehicles in his
convoy.
A
Government House source said eight of the vehicles are Toyota Prado SUVs.
It
was gathered that the governor’s main vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser 2014 model,
and his backup car, are armoured.
It
was also learnt that Governor Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa State and his Delta
State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, have many armoured vehicles in their fleet.
While
a source said Bindow has two bulletproof Lexus LX cars in his fleet, Okowa is
said to have four.
It
was gathered that of Okowa’s four bulletproof cars, three were bought in 2015
after his inauguration.
His
wife, Edith, is also said to be using a bulletproof Lexus 570 jeep, which Okowa
was said to have bought before he was elected as governor.
While
giving the breakdown of the numbers, our sources said the governor has Benz 550
and Lexus 570 Jeep as official bulletproof vehicles.
An
ex-security aide to a former governor in the state said two other bulletproof
cars aside the four mentioned by Okowa’s aides were usually stationed in Abuja
and Lagos.
The
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said he was at a
meeting and could not speak on the issue.
Security
chiefs in the state also declined comment. They described the issue as
classified information.
But
the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, explained that
the vehicles were not meant for luxury but to provide security for the
governor. He explained that presidents, governors and ministers are expected to
have bulletproof vehicles to safeguard their lives.
Aniagwu
added that the governor did not have more than the number of bulletproof
vehicles he was required to have, but declined to give the number.
Yohanna
Mathias, Chief Press Secretary to Bindow, said visitors to the state are being
chauffeured in one car because the former administration left only two Toyota
Prado (bulletproof) SUVs, two Hilux vans and one 406 Peugeot vehicle, which it
uses to convey guests.
He
also said the wife of the Governor does not have any bulletproof vehicle
assigned to her, adding that the case was pathetic because the previous
administration had boasted of over 60 vehicles, but that the current
administration had inherited not more than seven vehicles.
A
security expert, Patrick Agbam, says governors do not need more than two
bulletproof vehicles in their fleet even if the economy is prosperous.
Considering
the increase in poverty and hunger, he added that it was immoral for the
governors to have spent huge amount of public funds on acquisition of
bulletproof vehicles.
He
said, “I don’t think the current economic reality requires governors to spend
so much on acquiring bulletproof vehicles. I wouldn’t know how their security
advisers convinced them to acquire more than two bulletproof vehicles.
“In
security analysis, when poverty and hunger increase, there are bound to be
increase in security threats, but that doesn’t mean they should spend so much
money to acquire such vehicles. They could have used the money to cater for the
citizens.
“If
they do this, hunger will decrease and when hunger decreases, there will be
decrease in security threat. Governance is about serving people. Even if we
have a buoyant economy, governors and their deputies shouldn’t have more than
one bulletproof vehicle each.”
An
economist, Dr. Babatunde Abraham, referred to the governors’ action as economic
sabotage.
He
said, “It is not only when vandals destroy pipelines that we have economic
sabotage. Spending state resources extravagantly is also economic sabotage.
Even if there is no hunger, it is wasteful for any governor to have more than
one bulletproof car, if they need it at all.”
Source:The
Punch
Tags
Politics