By Zayd Ibn Isah

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State asserted himself as its true number one law enforcer when he apprehended motorcyclists for riding in the wrong direction along the Lagos-Badagry expressway. In a short clip which went viral on social media, the Governor, evidently incensed, directed his security aides to arrest and detain the defaulters who were caught plying the one-way route. Although some of them attempted to flee on foot, security operatives were able to arrest a young man who claimed to be a soldier. “Put him inside the car; let your father come and rescue you,” the Governor stated. “I am a soldier, sir,” the young man, dressed in civilian clothes, told the Governor.

“That is even more reason why I will lock you up,” the Governor responded. If the young man had hoped that claiming to be a soldier would let him off the hook, the Governor’s unwavering rebuttal proved otherwise, leaving the “soldier” with no choice but to apologize and plead for mercy.

The Governor’s operation did not stop at arresting the offenders. In another video, apparently a continuation of the same story, the Governor was heard talking to passersby and chiding a lady who had boarded one of the motorcycles for allowing the motorcyclist to take her through the one-way route. “You people are the ones causing it. Maybe I should arrest two of you and put you in the guardroom. Then you will know—” he said to two young men passing by, at which point they tried to exonerate themselves, saying, “No o! No be me o!”

The Governor then addressed a young lady standing by, possibly recording him as he moved around. “Madam, you are a graduate, abi? You are also taking okada. And they are taking you one-way. And put it on Facebook, on the road that I have done. Is it good? And they would now hit you, and you would fall. You would say the government is not good. What a shame. And we are all praying that we have a better country. Post it and tell people. This is the kind of thing that you see. In 20 minutes, I am sure they would carry another person,” the Governor lamented.

What Governor Sanwo-Olu said accurately reflects the sad reality of our everyday lives in this country. An average Nigerian craves shortcuts and wants the quickest route to everything. The daily occurrence of accidents in Nigeria is not largely due to the state of roads but the conduct of motorists. This is because the average Nigerian hardly obeys traffic rules. And as a people, we often prefer to be forced or cajoled before we do the right thing. A senior friend of mine, whose family is based in South Africa, told me that you can hardly see traffic congestions in South Africa. He said there are no traffic lights and traffic wardens in highbrow areas over there, unlike what is obtainable in Maitama, Asokoro or even semi-cities like Wuse. He said that the way things are done over there ensures that whoever comes first always has the right of way.

But here in Nigeria, you would see congestion in the absence of traffic wardens, and even where there are traffic lights, as nobody wants to yield to anyone. Even the simple things like wearing a seatbelt while driving for safety purposes, we fail to do it until we spot officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, popularly known as Road Safety. This calls to mind the famous words of Joseph De Maistre who said, “In a democracy, the people end up with the government and leaders they deserve.” There is no statement that better describes the conundrum of this peculiar country.

The Governor’s action is commendable, albeit heartbreaking. In the 21st century, we shouldn’t need a sitting Governor or law enforcement agents to call to order those who contravene basic regulations that exist for the good of all. It will definitely take a lot to convince the rest of the world, as Sanwo-Olu barked orders at his security aides to arrest road defaulters, that we are truly the giant of Africa. Nay, such a grand title becomes harder to justify due to the depths which we have sunk to in years.

It is understandable that some people may feel the Governor was making a mountain out of a molehill, questioning the direct or residual impact of his actions on the country’s GDP and citizens’ well-being. However, the truth is, even seemingly minor issues like traffic violations reflect broader challenges in societal conduct and adherence to rules.

As we pray and urge our leaders to take the right actions for improvement, a shift in mindset and orientation is equally crucial. Progress is challenging to sustain within the boundaries of a society where lawlessness prevails.

I personally believe that Governor Sanwo-Olu was justified in reprimanding the young lady who boarded one of the motorcycles. If she insisted that the okada rider take the right lane instead of the one-way lane, or she chose another okada rider, the outcome would have been much more positive and encouraging. Unfortunately, we are accustomed to taking shortcuts, and the young lady opted for the one-way lane to reach her destination faster.

We can only actualise the Nigeria of our dreams by not only advocating for the right thing but also insisting that it be done. As we ask our leaders to lead by example, we, the ordinary citizens, should also follow suit.

Isah can be reached at [email protected]