The Patriotism Of Gbajabiamila’s Dubai Party

So, Femi Gbajabiamila, the patriotic Speaker of our House of Representatives had to deny the number of people he flew to Dubai for his lovely mother’s birthday party. Madam Lateefat Gbajabiamila celebrated her 90th birthday party in Dubai, United Arab Emirate recently.

I have never met Gbaja but I am sure that shaking the Speaker’s hands increases one’s dollar savings. Gbaja’s patriotism is not in question. He left a very successful legal career in America to help us build democracy here. Even though some people would say he earns more than Donald Trump, this is the zenith of patriotism. Gbaja deserves our gratitude, not our grumblings.

Apparently, Gbaja loves his family and it shows. Two years ago when his lovely wife clocked 50, the speaker dipped into his dollar savings and bought a G-wagon, reportedly priced at $300,000, for her.

Since I discovered how much a G-Wagon sells, I’ve been combing Ottawa to see how many Canadians drive one. It’s a hard assignment. Poor Canadians drive North American cars. It’s a level of pride that ranks close to heckling Ottawa’s mayor for buying into a troublesome rail line and complaining about the tardiness of city transport system. Canadians don’t know the joy of hiking a Molue or the pain of Okada ban. Nigerians do not share the same road with their oppressors without casualty.

I expect that the ultimate German machine flies over tree trunks and leaps over city craters seeing that security agents and their murderous impersonators often block the motorable part of Nigerian roads with stumps. Of course the next level of potholes are gullies and craters.

I believe that the Right Honorable (Mrs) Gbajabiamila’s G-Wagon is bullet proofed. That is essential for her security. At any rate by national arrangement, Madam has special guards trained to lay down their lives in case of an attack even at the risk of disappearing behind headlines. Only last December, one of the soldiers securing President Jonathan’s country home was killed in an attack. He basically earned a nameless burial like most of our gallant troops paying the price for our national inefficiency.

One could empathise with Gbajabiamila. He knows that in a society where everybody is unsafe, nobody is safe or above abduction. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala tasted the bitter pill of parental abduction while she was a minister under Goodluck Jonathan. Samson Siasia’s mother was abducted more than once. Madam Ozuruonye Juliet Kalu, mother of striker Samuel Kalu was abducted in the past. In the past, we’ve lost an attorney general and several military chiefs to national insecurity.

Those talking about the optics of holding a party in Dubai are hypocrites. They would have learnt that America is shutting its doors to unwashed Nigerians. You can’t blame them trying to prevent so-called ‘repentant Boko Haram militants’ from exporting their genocidal tendencies to other land. Nigeria wants to send them to foreign lands. Even Dubai would not accept them.

We all love Dubai. Our girls go there for prostitution, our young men as slaves. Our officials go as tourists. A permanent secretary once took his son’s wedding there. Tuface Idibia’s formalized wedding to Anne was consummated in Dubai at Akwa Ibom state expense. Turaki Atiku Abubakar held his strategy sessions in Dubai. Tukur Buratai’s wives have homes there.

Only President Muhammadu Buhari and his family warehoused their medical needs to London. They have done so for 20 years, lest someone accuse me of doubting the president’s patriotism. Like Gbajabiamila, the president does not spend public money on his medical trips – we only pay for the parking of the presidential jet. Yar’adua’s did the same thing. Nothing is new!

Anyone with a mother knows they are precious gems. One must commend Speaker Gbaja for feting his mother at 90. That is what a worthy son should do. As President Buhari would say – he could afford it. Those who cannot afford it should forever hold their peace.

Wouldn’t we rather have Alhaja Gbajabiamila celebrate in the peace and sanity of Dubai than expose her to Nigeria’s insecurity? What optics would there be if something happened to the mother of our No.4 citizen! Nasir el-Rufai has just apologized for failing to protect the lives of the people of Kerawa, Zareyawa and Minda. President Buhari issued a familiar condolence statement.

In the five years that the APC have been in control, they have assiduously worked to tackle the insecurity that is wasting the lives of PDP supporters. They must be commended for giving a damn. I suggest that Gbajabiamila introduce a bill to ensure that Nigerians have free access to Dubai for parties and holidaying. No need pretending that Obudu, Ikogosi or Yankari could be party venues outside political rallies.

Dubai found oil, explored it and used it for a tourist’s destination. Nigeria’s petroleum ministers were not so clairvoyant. They have squandered every opportunity. They still do so.

The 8th Assembly, of which Speaker Gbaja is a ranking official, is changing that. They’re importing about 400 Toyota SUVs from abroad. Our patriotic Senate has just endorsed a $22.7 billion loan from China. That money comes with no corona virus attached. We would spend it as usual showing the world that we may be down, but we are not out. That is patriotism unparalleled.