Are ‘soldiers’ above the law? That was the question I asked myself when I saw a trending video of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State effecting the arrest of some traffic offenders.
I gathered okada riders were caught driving against traffic along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
One of the offenders identified himself as a lance corporal in the Nigerian army, and that infuriated the governor.
‘I am a soldier oga sir’, the man said as he was being arrested.
‘That is the more reason why you should be locked up’, the governor angrily replied.
Governor Sanwo-Olu effecting the arrest of the offending officer… pic.twitter.com/LBXMNZIhgV
— AJE (@Riddwane) January 2, 2024
According to the functions conferred by 510(4) of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act, 2007 establishment, obstructing any section of the road with vehicles or in any other way that may affect the free flow of traffic is a traffic offence.
Another offence is riding an okada without a crash helmet properly strapped to the head and fastened under the chin.
While Nigerians are quick to hold government officials to high standards, they too must be disciplined enough to follow the laws set to govern society, no matter where or who is or is not watching.
