Curbing the Menace of political big boys

BY EMEDIONG ANDREW

Were they supposed to  carry themselves as   the president, Governor or even the Speaker? Isn’t it too much to spend our resources employing too many people to do what very few can handle? How long will they continue parading themselves up and down in the name of political big boys?

The above questions have respective answers if at all we really want to find solution to it this menace of bouncers who carry themselves around as political assistants to other top politicians we know.

What do we mean by political big boys and what are their functions? How also have they been able to do their job?

Political big boys are those sets of politicians who have been appointed by Presidents, Governors, Speakers, Senators, Legislators and even the Local Government Chairmen to work with them as body guards, personal assistants and special advisers. Their duties lie on the kind of persons they are working for and the kind of positions they occupy. But it has been noted that what these men were employed to do is not what they are really doing. With this, they have become nuisances, noise makers and even a stumbling block to others who would have been favoured by their bosses.

Everyday, the demeanor of these political big boys keeps increasing and nobody seems to be bothered about it. The question is, should we continue to keep quiet instead of airing out our view and finding solution to this problem? Wouldn’t it have been better if the money spent on these Personal Assistants to the Senior Personal Assistant to the Special Adviser to the Governor are put into something every citizen would benefit from like an industry where these men will work hard rather than parading the city as if they own the earth.

Every citizen is expected to be a respecter of the law but these men have turned out to be disrespecters and disregarders of the law; feeling the law should rather respect them. Before now, traffic light junctions were revered and obeyed by all and sundry and this was a redeemable solution to accidents and reckless driving, but with these big boys, such is an abomination as they do not consider any congestion, road warder or any visible restriction on their path. With these ‘Almighties’ on the road, other road users and even wardens are driven out of the way by noisy and threatening sirens with the accompanying speed by drivers of the vehicles who do not give a thought to cautiousness. At traffic lights, they do not bother waiting for the green light rather, they blast their vehicle horns to announce their coming and to make others stay off the road. The question is, are these ‘big boys’ not conditioned to the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution? Because this impunity has given them the temerity to disobey the law and go scot-free.

Another issue that bothers me most is the fact that while Personal Assistants to the Governors are to take orders from him (the governor) , the reverse has been the case lately. That they just take decisions on their own without consulting their superior is mind depressing. I want to take our minds back to when the state government banned motorcycle in Uyo metropolis. There was this man who catered for his family using his motorcycle. He had a daughter in the University, two children in secondary school and a sick wife who left him spending not less than fifteen thousand naira on drugs monthly. When this man learnt that motorcycle was being banned, he got frustrated and decided visiting the governor to explain to him his conditions. His fate however, was determined by the so-called ‘boys’ who beat and dragged him when he refused leaving as they ordered. Luck eventually shone on him when the governor who was out on his way for a function intercepted the scene.  The thing is, before beating up the poor man, couldn’t these ‘hired killers’ have reported to the governor, the man first before taking any action?

This norm in the politics of our leaders has become very worrisome that one is made to wonder if we all are safe. Are we supposed to be scared of our political leaders instead of going close to them? The way our politicians’ body guards treat people scare us away from them. For instance, if a politician is hosting an occasion, the manner with which the PAs will act is as if humans are just trash. Once, a state governor attended the traditional marriage of a well-known artiste and actress and a man was suffocated to death just because ‘the boys’ were trying to create a way for the governor to pass, they pushed the said man to the ground and matched him to death. As far as violence is concerned, they are not impossible. What then can be done to curb this ill? 

First, I will suggest that the excesses of these boys be cut off. I do not see any reason why any PA to the Governor should have his/her own PA who also has an A(Assistant), the same goes for special advisers. Our politicians should look into this issue and try to establish an industry for these men to work rather than allow them carry themselves as men of high standard.

Secondly, these ‘boys’ should be oriented again on the duties expected of them and should stop doing more than what they are to do. This will curtail their very saucy and indignifying attitude to members of the public.

Thirdly, they should be warned that whenever the governor or their superiors are not in the car, they should learn to respect the laws guiding all the citizens and should be careful with blowing sirens.

Conclusively, everybody has a right to do what is good and discard what is wrong irrespective of whoever is involved. The laws of the country should be both for the goose and the gander.    Hence, whether or not, one is a politician, he should not intimidate or overpower others with his or her political big boys.