Adebayo Adenrele
Social media activist, Reno Omokri said Nigerian politicians will be corrupt if the federal government scraps payment of monthly salaries as part of the steps to cut the cost of governance in the country.
Omokri stated this via his verified X handle while responding to netizen Deji Adeyanju, who suggested that payment of salaries to politicians should be scrapped.
He wrote, “Thank you for sending me your interview on the Honest Bunch Podcast. As I told you over the phone after listening to the interview, it is not wise to ask the President of Nigeria to ride in his car and ditch his official convoy. The last person who tried that, General Murtala Muhammed, was assassinated.
“Nigeria is a fairly brutal country. I can assure you that if you, Deji, ever become President, and ride in your personal car without a convoy of vehicles, including decoys, backup, and security details, you WILL be assassinated. Not may. WILL.
“Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna killed Tafawa Balewa because he had no security at his Ikoyi residence. Major General Ironsi was killed in Ibadan because he went to the barracks with only one anti-tank gun, which was easily disabled. If he had sufficient security, he would not have been killed.
“Murtala Muhammed was killed while driving to work in his Mercedes. He had no convoy. Nigeria’s history would have been different if he had had one.
“We live in a country where bandits invaded the Nigerian Defence Academy, and Boko Haram penetrated and bombed the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. A nation where IPOB overwhelms heavily guarded police formations and kills police officers and terrorist invaded Kuje prison and freed over 250 of their members. It would be suicidal for a President to try what you suggested.
“Governors can do that. Alhaji Lateef Jakande drove his personal Toyota Crown. But not a President.
“And to call for politicians in Nigeria not to be paid salaries will only increase corruption, because they will steal. It is perhaps better if you call for them to be well paid and for everything unrelated to their salary, such as constituency allowances, etc., to be scrapped.
“Other than these points, I agree with the suggestions you made”.