Written by Remi Adekoya. It’s an interesting read. Enjoy!
In a country where 62% of the population lives in extreme
poverty, a Nigerian senator takes home roughly £1.1m every year in salary plus
benefits. MPs must make do with £900,000. In comparison, David Cameron earns
£142,500 as UK prime minister.
poverty, a Nigerian senator takes home roughly £1.1m every year in salary plus
benefits. MPs must make do with £900,000. In comparison, David Cameron earns
£142,500 as UK prime minister.
Nigeria’s lawmakers fly first class, lodge in the priciest
rooms at the fanciest hotels and live in Beverly Hills-style mansions, all at
the public’s expense. And they get away with this in a country where millions
go to bed hungry. But Muhammadu Buhari, who has been officially sworn in as
Nigeria’s head of state today after winning presidential elections in March,
has vowed to lead a different, more modest kind of lifestyle and to cut down on
what he terms “wastages”.
rooms at the fanciest hotels and live in Beverly Hills-style mansions, all at
the public’s expense. And they get away with this in a country where millions
go to bed hungry. But Muhammadu Buhari, who has been officially sworn in as
Nigeria’s head of state today after winning presidential elections in March,
has vowed to lead a different, more modest kind of lifestyle and to cut down on
what he terms “wastages”.
Buhari’s past behaviour lends credibility to his promises.
Even though he was the military head of state from 1983-85 and has held several
other top political positions, he is known for his ascetic lifestyle and
incorruptibility. His personal home is a modest bungalow. After meeting Cameron
at 10 Downing Street last week, Buhari reportedly flew home economy class, an
event which made headlines in Nigeria due to its sheer novelty. He has also
announced that his presidential convoy will obey traffic rules like everyone
else, another first. If he continues in this fashion, Nigeria’s new president
could play a huge role in changing public perceptions of how a political leader
is expected to behave and how “power” should be wielded.
Even though he was the military head of state from 1983-85 and has held several
other top political positions, he is known for his ascetic lifestyle and
incorruptibility. His personal home is a modest bungalow. After meeting Cameron
at 10 Downing Street last week, Buhari reportedly flew home economy class, an
event which made headlines in Nigeria due to its sheer novelty. He has also
announced that his presidential convoy will obey traffic rules like everyone
else, another first. If he continues in this fashion, Nigeria’s new president
could play a huge role in changing public perceptions of how a political leader
is expected to behave and how “power” should be wielded.
Buhari will not have an easy task convincing those around
him about the necessity for modesty
him about the necessity for modesty
The prestige of the presidential office is unparalleled in
Nigeria, as are the perks. If Buhari pointedly refuses to take advantage of
many of these benefits, he would be sending a strong message to citizens that
politicians are by no means entitled to a life of luxury simply by virtue of
their position. It would also help to delegitimise the outrageous earnings of
parasitical politicians who act as if it is perfectly normal that they live
lavishly at the expense of their mostly poor countrymen.
Nigeria, as are the perks. If Buhari pointedly refuses to take advantage of
many of these benefits, he would be sending a strong message to citizens that
politicians are by no means entitled to a life of luxury simply by virtue of
their position. It would also help to delegitimise the outrageous earnings of
parasitical politicians who act as if it is perfectly normal that they live
lavishly at the expense of their mostly poor countrymen.
In Nigeria’s fiercely hierarchical and materialistic
society, it is easy for top politicians to discredit criticism of their
lifestyle from those below them on the social ladder: by simply implying that
it stems from envy. It hardly helps that there have been numerous cases of
members of civil society who used to lambast politicians’ earnings – only to be
co-opted by the establishment and promptly reverse their views.
society, it is easy for top politicians to discredit criticism of their
lifestyle from those below them on the social ladder: by simply implying that
it stems from envy. It hardly helps that there have been numerous cases of
members of civil society who used to lambast politicians’ earnings – only to be
co-opted by the establishment and promptly reverse their views.
Buhari’s stance would resonate with people precisely
because, as president, the Nigerian system offers him every opportunity to live
like a king, something no head of state has yet been willing or able to resist.
Nigerian society is unrelentingly hierarchical, so if people see that a
president is capable of living modestly and not flaunting his power at ordinary
citizens, they would start asking why a “mere” senator or MP cannot do
likewise. More pressure could then be applied for their outlandish privileges
to be slashed, especially now that the national budget is constrained by low
oil prices.
because, as president, the Nigerian system offers him every opportunity to live
like a king, something no head of state has yet been willing or able to resist.
Nigerian society is unrelentingly hierarchical, so if people see that a
president is capable of living modestly and not flaunting his power at ordinary
citizens, they would start asking why a “mere” senator or MP cannot do
likewise. More pressure could then be applied for their outlandish privileges
to be slashed, especially now that the national budget is constrained by low
oil prices.
But Buhari will not have an easy task convincing those
around him about the necessity for modesty. Rotimi Amaechi, a former state
governor and director-general of Buhari’s presidential campaign, said in a TV
interview last year that four years’ work as a governor is equal to the work an
“ordinary man” puts in over 25 years. When asked how he came about his
calculations, Amaechi retorted: “How many times does the ordinary man have to
work till 2 in the morning only to be up by 6am to resume his duties?” Such
statements reveal what an uphill task Buhari will have trying to bring
Nigeria’s political elite down from their high horses.
around him about the necessity for modesty. Rotimi Amaechi, a former state
governor and director-general of Buhari’s presidential campaign, said in a TV
interview last year that four years’ work as a governor is equal to the work an
“ordinary man” puts in over 25 years. When asked how he came about his
calculations, Amaechi retorted: “How many times does the ordinary man have to
work till 2 in the morning only to be up by 6am to resume his duties?” Such
statements reveal what an uphill task Buhari will have trying to bring
Nigeria’s political elite down from their high horses.
Political power has always been associated with unfettered
access to public funds and lavish lifestyles in Nigeria. Many Nigerians still
wrongly assume that if you get to the top of the political heap, this somehow
entitles you to a generous portion of the country’s wealth. Buhari needs to
work hard to disabuse Nigerian politicians as well as citizens of this absurd notion.
access to public funds and lavish lifestyles in Nigeria. Many Nigerians still
wrongly assume that if you get to the top of the political heap, this somehow
entitles you to a generous portion of the country’s wealth. Buhari needs to
work hard to disabuse Nigerian politicians as well as citizens of this absurd notion.
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