The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected the reported directive by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to decorate the First Niger Bridge with photographs of President Bola Tinubu, describing the move as an attempt to personalise public infrastructure.
HURIWA argued that the bridge, having been constructed and rehabilitated with public resources, belongs to Nigerians and should not be converted into a platform for promoting the personality of an individual political office holder.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on Thursday, the rights group said the directive raised fundamental questions about the separation of state resources from partisan political promotion.
Umahi had reportedly directed Senior Special Assistants to the President in the South-East and South-South to beautify and colour the bridge with photographs of Tinubu.
The minister was quoted as saying, “The South-South and South-East SSAs to Mr President, they have to fertilise the bridge. They’ll beautify, they’ll colour it with the President’s pictures.”
But HURIWA said the directive was inconsistent with the principles underpinning constitutional governance.
The group cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
It also referenced Section 13, which requires all organs and authorities exercising governmental powers to conform to and observe the constitutional provisions on the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.
HURIWA argued that these provisions reinforced the principle that government property and resources should be deployed for public purposes rather than the personal promotion of political office holders.
The organisation further pointed to Section 16 of the Constitution, which sets out principles for managing Nigeria’s economy and ensuring that material resources are harnessed and distributed to promote the welfare of citizens.
According to HURIWA, installing presidential photographs on the bridge does not advance its structural integrity, safety, security or functionality.
The group said there was a distinction between informing Nigerians about government projects and using public infrastructure to promote the image of an individual politician.
“Government infrastructure must not become a taxpayer-funded campaign backdrop,” HURIWA said.
The organisation stressed that the President was an occupant of a constitutional office and did not acquire personal ownership of public infrastructure because a project was constructed, rehabilitated or commissioned during his tenure.
“No President acquires proprietary interest in public infrastructure simply because the project is rehabilitated during his tenure,” the group said.
HURIWA also welcomed other measures reportedly ordered by the minister, including the removal of unauthorised advertisements, installation of additional solar lights, completion of CCTV facilities and technical assessment of the bridge.
It, however, urged the Ministry of Works to concentrate on those measures rather than political branding.
The group called on Umahi to withdraw the directive for the display of Tinubu’s photographs and urged the Federal Government to establish clearer guidelines preventing the use of public infrastructure for the personal glorification of serving political office holders.
HURIWA said public projects should be judged by their impact on citizens, safety and value for money rather than the political personalities occupying office when they are constructed or rehabilitated.
“The Nigerian state belongs to Nigerians. Its bridges, roads, hospitals, schools, airports and other infrastructure belong to the public,” the group said.
HURIWA maintained that any recognition of Tinubu’s administration should be based on transparent records of performance, audited expenditure and measurable improvements in citizens’ welfare rather than the placement of his photographs on public infrastructure.