Indeed, many Nigerians were embarrassed by a video widely circulated recently on various media platforms showing policemen lined-up as in a parade, receiving cash from a Chinese expatriate, his wife and child.
It was difficult to understand the motive of the ‘donor’ who would have orchestrated such an episode to be so documented in a video that demeaned the beneficiaries. They were portrayed perhaps in the worst spectacle as beggars and worthless. It was a show of shame that gravely ridiculed the policemen, embarrassed the nation, and puts a question mark on the adequacy of supervision of officers and men of the police force by their superiors.
It is unbecoming how our various uniform men of law have been turned worthless, priceless and degraded class by the affluent and well-placed persons and entities being accorded the privilege of private security by these officers. Foreigners and prominent Nigerians appear to have little or no respect for security men in this country because they are largely seen as people who accept anything not minding the overriding issue of respect and discipline. And, unfortunately, policemen are not doing enough to earn people’s trust and respect. It is believed the average policeman can be easily wooed with monetary gifts; sometimes mere tokens.
It was absurd that the Chinese threw caution to the wind notwithstanding that he was rich enough to give out such largesse.
While we understand the Inspector-General of Police ,IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered disciplinary measures against the aberrant policemen, let it be certain that it was not a face-saving measure to mitigate the embarrassing scenario which has been already done enormous harm to the nation’s force and the country. In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police authorities had taken note of the video and condemned the conduct of the policemen, adding that it was unethical. He said the force has zero tolerance for such behaviour and warned individuals and organisations privileged to have police personnel as escorts and guards or other specialised services not to undermine the integrity of its men. The police’s swift reaction to the incident is welcome.
While the dust raised by this unwholesome tendency of the Chinese national was yet to settle, he tried to rationalise it by saying: “No money was given to the officers on any demand or request. There was no bribe, no illegal exchange but in good faith appreciating their professionalism. What you see in the video was a friendly and open interaction — nothing was done in secret and nothing inappropriate happened. It’s a common Chinese tradition, where we come from, to show appreciation or kindness to people who are doing their jobs well, especially when they’ve been helpful or respectful”.
We take exception to dolling out the cash handout to the policemen in a parade mode, as it were, and making them look beggarly. That was for many, demeaning and offensive. One of the national symbols of our sovereignty has been abused. The Chinese said it is customary for his people to appreciate people who have rendered services to them with professionalism, and we hasten to say that the same applies in other jurisdictions, including Nigeria. Perhaps the only difference is that in Nigeria, and in many other climes, people show appreciation without robbing the beneficiaries of their dignity or insulting the sensibilities of the institutions and people they represent.
There were times, uniformed personnel were subjected to demeaning roles as dish washing, carrying handbags and other domestic chores by the officials they are assigned to. All that is to be resisted to maintain some level of pride and dignity of whatever is left of the fast dwindling worth of our uniformed men.
Beyond the so-called apology rendered by the Chinese national, all expatriates given the privilege of police escorts and guards should be made to understand the rules of engagement with a view to avoid embarrassing scenarios such as was witnessed in that video. The nation’s dignity must be paramount at all times.
