Bernard Baridamue, a politician in Rivers House of Assembly, has drawn public notice following the recent inauguration of his ‘Bicycle Initiative to Combat Insecurity’ in Ward 9 of his Tai State Constituency Tai local government area of the state.
Barimadue, a first-term member and Chairman of the House Committee on Emergency Relief/Special Duties, announced his pet initiative to combat insecurity in Bunu-Tai Town Square.
In images, elders and stakeholders are seen laying hands on bicycles and torch lights before they are distributed as vital resources to aid the fight against insecurity inside the ward.
However, the project drew both criticism and praise from members of the public.
“This is unacceptable in this 21st century, because it seems we are still living in the 18th century after collecting huge sum of money for Constituency Projects,” one Chamberline Kinikanwo said in his reaction to the donation.
“Our politicians have no shame. This is a very big disgrace,” he added.
He appealed to Tai ‘brilliant minds’ to reject such projects, asserting that the area is peaceful area without bicycles and torch lights
While further dismissing the initiative as disgusting and appalling, he noted that other lawmakers are doing better things to help their people and development.
“Anyway, congratulations to Tai people for using bicycles and torch lights to fight crimes”, he said.
On the contrary, one Prince Sordum Leke described the donation as a timely intervention by Ngbar also popularly known as Benco to the people of Bunu Tai community.
Leke argued that considering the high cost of fuel and maintenance of vehicles, the best alternative to local policing is the use of bicycle.
He noted that bicycles are economical to maintain and when being used by vigilante operatives, criminals would not hear any approaching sound and thus, will enable the local security to apprehend criminals.
Launch of ‘Bicycle Initiative to Combat Insecurity’ by Rivers lawmaker Bernard Baridamue in his constituency
According Leke, “It will help the vigilantes keep fit which is an essential element of policing. Local challenges need local solutions, we must not always copy from other climes. For example, since Sheriff’s use Ferrari in neighborhoods in London, should he have bought Ferrari to Police Bunu Tai Community? Certainly not.”
He claimed that even in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, police employ bicycles for investigation and other purposes.
Leke stated that bicycles even have special lanes in sophisticated countries, while wondering what Nigerians comprehend by bicycle usage.
“God bless his representation as he continues to ameliorate the challenges of his people for the greater good of Rivers State”, Leke added.
