This week celebrity blogger Linda Ikeji made headlines when her brother revealed she traded her 2014 Range Rover for a 2016 version. Many blogs estimated the retail value of the luxury vehicle to be about $200,000 but a glimpse at carguru.com shows a retail value of about $120,000-$145,000.
Needless to say and as expected, social media was ablaze as a debate ensued on whether Ikeji was being obnoxious with constantly flashing her wealth. In October of 2015, Ikeji purchased a home in Banana Island, a residential area that is home to some of Nigeria’s billionaires. In August 2016, she followed up with a 22 room office space, and now closes the year with her 2016 Range Rover acquisition.
My take? I read something just the other day on Linkedin. It was a response from a person who was accused of flashing his luxurious vehicle. He was reminded that there are masses that could be fed with the amount he used to buy his vehicle. His response was that his purchase of the vehicle created employment for the employees of the car manufacturer who needed his money. It was a different perspective.
I believe people have a right to do whatever they please with their hard earned money. I do think it is prudent to not be flashy. In a country like Nigeria, armed robbery is very real and a common occurrence. Safety should be an important priority. Linda Ikeji should place safety, especially as a person living in Nigeria, over ostentatious display of her wealth. Then again it’s her money, she has said she loves to show off. Presumably, it means she has factored safety and other consequences that may result from such flashiness into the mix.
-Ms. Uduak
