By TONGUES are currently wagging on X platform following a post by Netherlands Ambassador to the UK, Karel Van Oosterom posted on his loop how the outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte rode home after his final day in office on a bicycle.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte bidding farewell
“This is the Netherlands. Our Prime Minister of fourteen years leaves office. On a bicycle,” he wrote on his X handle @KvanOosterom on Tuesday July 2, 2024.
The X post
Mixed reactions from netizens across the world, especially Africa, trailed the posts of photos depicting the sublime simplicity of a political leader contrary to what is obtainable in third world countries.
Netizens, mostly from boiling Kenya, Uganda and famished Nigeria, took a swipe at their extravagant and opulently insensitive leaders thus:
From @offlinekss: “Such a humble and relatable gesture! The Dutch Prime Minister leaving office on a bicycle after fourteen years truly reflects the simplicity and down-to-earth nature of Dutch leadership. #Leadership #Netherlands”
Prime Minister Mark Rutte mounting his bicycle to leave
@givandchill says: “Nigerian past and present presidents left the room in a private jet.”
On the part of @CollinsWeglobe,
“Even the president of my country, who owns over 200 luxury cars and numerous private jets, would come to him to borrow money.”
“In the Netherlands, how lucky!
In Uganda, the president has his own personal convoy, and traffic comes to a standstill hours before he even uses the road!” @cynthiechoco says.
“If he was in Kenya he would have left with a whole island,” one @ENGnaftali alleged.
@effiwatt2cute, “In Nigeria, our vice president @officialSKSM lives in a 21 Billion Naira mansion, our Senate president @SPNigeria drives a 160 million Naira SUV because of bad roads, all these amidst an inflation rate of 33.95%.”
Prime Minister Mark Rutte
@JustTweep says: “A Kenyan MP earns more than the UK PRIME MINISTER!! WE HAVE TO FIX AFRICA!! “We are DONE with these GREEDY OLDER GENERATION of African leaders!
REVOLUTION IS NOW!!
#RutoMustGo”
@stShupav says: “Here in Kenya, they are afraid of being infected poverty by their ‘servants’. They drive in convoys with armed guards those are just the cabinet secretaries wait till you meet our monarchy you will be impressed! Shame on your prime minister!”
“That’s because he has nothing to be afraid of. He hasn’t stolen from public coffers and done shady business with unknown entities, at the expense of the taxpayer. His conscience is as clear as a baby’s tears. In Kenya, it isn’t quite the same, if you know what I mean…,” another netizen from Kenya reacted.
For @franciseze, it is “Commendable. However, If you do this as a leader in Nigeria or Africa, the people you govern would call you broke and poor. They would mock you like they mocked Peter Obi, @PeterObi because his daughter is a high school teacher.”
@YourEminence2 believes that it’s a matter of “Freedom of choice; that he chooses to take a ride on a bicycle doesn’t make him more upright nor does it make him a barometer for measuring the standard of leadership. Your prime Minister of 14yrs is not a poor man; he can afford a good vehicle.”
Another Nigerian, @olusegun_saint, believes that “This can never happen in an African nation. Even all the vehicles used during his tenure would be driven off to his home town or some discreet opulent mansion built with sleaze funds. That’s why African nations are floundering.”
Stonix News reports that just yesterday Tuesday, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Nigeria, gave a seven-day ultimatum to the ousted deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, to return about 22 official vehicles in his possession.
Apparently, the out-of-favour former deputy governor, when impeached by the state’s House of Assembly, left with the official vehicles bought with tax payers money.
What's your reaction?
