With a crop of security operatives who are disgruntled and disenchanted and, consequently, a security arrangement going lax, the life of acting President Yemi Osinbajo may be in grave danger, The Point has learnt.
It is a case of a looming security threat at Osinbajo’s Vice President’s Lodge, Ikoyi, Lagos, which may have dire consequences if not redressed on time.
Following a tip-off and subsequent undercover investigation, our correspondent found that over 10 security details currently attached to the VP’s Lodge in Lagos were allegedly unhappy with the country’s number two citizen over what they described as “his nonchalance to their welfare.”
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that, as a result, the security details, most of who are policemen, drawn from different police units across the country, have in unison, resorted to doing that which may lead to their transfer from the VP’s sprawling lodge.
The VP’s lodge usually plays host to the acting President and his immediate family whenever he is Lagos. And that happens quite often, as the VP frequents the megacity almost every other weekend.
VP is a core Ijebuman. Here, we are on our own. All we are praying for is a change of posting. We always leave our duty post whenever we are hungry because we know nobody would make provisions for us. And for you to get food here, you have to go to Obalende, which is too far
Recall the unresolved murder case of the late governor of old Oyo State and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, on December 23, 2001, at his residence in Ibadan, and how it was allegedly linked to a perceived lackadaisical attitude to the welfare of his security details.
His security details, who ordinarily should be catered for within the residence, were said to have gone to look for what to eat when Chief Ige’s killers came calling and took his life.
According to a highly placed source, majority of the security officers attached to the VP’s Lodge, have now taken to a reckless consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks and cigarette smoking to keep body and soul together.
He said, “Whenever they are informed that the Vice President would be coming around, they openly display their anger, frustration and desperation. “An average security officer attached to the building religiously keeps four to eight sachets of alcoholic drinks in his pocket each day as he moves up and down.”
Our correspondent later embarked on a three-week undercover investigation, during which he made friends with some of the VP’s security men, disguising as a security operative posted to secure a highly-placed government official in the neighbourhood. And his findings were bemusing, as they were shocking.
In a conversation with one of the operatives, he told our correspondent in confidence that his posting to VP’s lodge had turned to some sort of frustration because what he was experiencing was totally different from what was expected.
“As the posting don turn us to hungry and angry officers, we dey openly smoke, even in the glare of the Vice President and his entourage in a show of defia n c e to register our anger that hunger is everywhere.
It is an irony that the VP pretends not to understand our body language,” he said. Our correspondent gathered that the VP’s security men often trekked several kilometres before they could buy bread or rice, as the case may be, since their family members do not reside within the vicinity.
Some even resort to borrowing food items from their colleagues attached to nearby houses. An inside source added, “On Sundays, when the VP would be riding in company with his wife, we would all hold up alcohol sachets or biscuits wrappers.
“At times, we would behave in such a manner that could bring our passive anger to the notice of the Vice President and his visitors. We do this in the form of creating small delays in opening the gate or something like that.”
Another security detail, who said he was posted to the house almost two years ago, told The Point that he was very happy when the posting roaster came out that he would be among the officers to guard the Vice President’s Lodge. But he said the joy was short-lived when nothing like feeding was forth-coming.
He said, “I thought that Prof., with his clout in the society, would make arrangement for our feeding and sundry needs at least once in a day. But it has never been so. He is a core Ijebu-man. Here, we are on our own.
All we are praying for is a change of posting because this their change cannot change us at all. “We always leave our duty post whenever we are hungry because we know nobody would make provisions for us. And for you to get food here, you have to go to Obalende, which is too far.”
The officer added, “Last December, for instance, majority of us were expecting so much from our Vice-President in terms of goodies, but we salivated in vain. Nothing materialised that could have added value to our lives.
“The story becomes annoying when we hear from our colleagues manning other houses of very important persons around that they were treated to good food. You see, this street is not for ordinary people. It is for the movers and shakers of the society; and our other colleagues in other postings around here are never so shoddily treated.” Yet another operative, who is a northerner, bemoaned his luck.
“Most times, we beg for food from neighbours, because we see ourselves as one. You see, police is police everywhere, even though I am Hausa by birth. “I know that it might have skipped the mind of our Vice President to make provision for us, at least once in a day. I just pray someone would help us tell him that we are hungry; we are not happy with the situation of things at all. He is a Christian and a pastor for that matter. He should understand better.”
Meanwhile, attempts to speak with the Vice President or his representatives were unsuccessful, as all calls and text messages sent to the Vice President’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, were not replied.
