SECURITY FILE: WHO WOULD THE 19th IGP BE? – PEOPLE AND POWER Magazine

BY BEN OKEZIE

Each time the tenure of a serving Inspector General of Police (IGP) winds to an end, the above question is usually on the lips of both serving and retired officers on the one hand and that of security observers and civilians on the other. There are reasons for such inquisitiveness; it is born out of the fact that the Police are the first security institution that is closest to the people in any democratic setting. There are those who want to know who leads the police, for personal purposes.

Indeed, the office of the IGP is not only powerful but touches virtually everyone in the country. The IGP superintend over 130,000 trained armed personnel and has the constitutional power to arrest any person in the country except the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. When the IGP coughs in anger, the citizenry shivers. We have seen IGPs that have been reckless with their powers. There are those who are wise like King Solomon in the Bible. These IGPs are those who have assiduously and meticulously written their names on the annals of Police history.

During the military era, the Head of States did not follow any procedure in the appointment of the IGP. It is either they are appointed based on ethnic, religious, or friendship affiliations. No wonder consideration for educational qualification was the least on their mind while picking the officer for the position.

Nonetheless, the Police institution has seen 18 officers mounting the office as Inspector General of Police of the Country. The story has been that of the good, the bad, and the ugly. This time around, serving and retired officers of the Force believe that President Muhammadu Buhari should pick someone who would build upon the good legacies already instituted by past leaders of the Police, especially Solomon Arase. Officers who would be above board where corruption is mentioned; Officers whose pedigree has impacted positively both on the people and the police. With the emergence of democracy, ethnicity was the first consideration used in the appointment while ignoring pedigree and sound professional competence.

In his bid to appoint an Inspector General of police, President Buhari should consider some vital qualities that have been suggested by security experts; among them is the educational qualification, consideration for the intellectual security community the officer would superintend. Such a person should be cerebral, courageous, and have an in-depth knowledge of the system. Without a sound education, one would feel not only insecure but would be edgy and intellectually deficient despite the acquired professional training.

Another quality is the mental and moral stability and disposition of the officer. It is true that the appointment of the IGP is a political decision, yet, no one would expect the President to appoint an officer whose records are soiled with corruption cases. One whose views are anti-police welfare and public security. It should not be one who would be quick in implementing obnoxious policies of the ruling party by twisting the law to serve the powers of the incumbent. Such characters abound in the police and other security agencies.

Interestingly, there are officers with abundant integrity who can be vouched for, because of their exhibited sterling characters over the years. It is the office and position that oftentimes reveal the actual character of an individual. What is exhibited may fool many, but once the officer is appointed, then the real personality unfolds. That is when he would start changing his contact numbers like a rat dodging the presence of a Cat. That is when; lists of classified enemies are listed to be visited with wickedness. That is when pride and arrogance envelop the officer.

In fact, simple corrections are taken as an affront. Other officers that mistakenly step on his toe are punished with “bad” transfers and postings while the junior officers are deliberately denied their promotions.

Truly, a cross-section of the Police, especially the junior ranks are yearning for an exemplary officer who would have their welfare at heart and stand by them when they are prosecuted for right doing, while the senior officers are requesting for an upright, courageous and humble but firm professional officer. They believe that such an officer would not be a sell-out to politicians but would exhibit integrity and the fear of God in his daily activities and dealings with police officers and members of the public. Even with the heat of politicking over who could be the next IGP, the president has kept the card to his chest. He is a president that likes people to guess before he strikes like a Kite.

Issues of security, to him, are not meant for public discourse, that was why the list of all the service Chiefs were well concealed before he displayed them and everyone was surprised. Indeed, the name of the game is a surprise and the expected surprise is the Change.

HAMEED ALLI: UNNECESSARY BOLDFACE

Colonel Hameed Alli is a military Colonel who after his retirement went into farming. He was a full-time farmer before favour smiled his way and was appointed the Comptroller General of Customs Service. Since he assumed office as the Comptroller, he has left no one in doubt that, there are positions that can intoxicate a man and he would start behaving and talking like a “drunkard”. Thank God this is a democracy, which has always been a bitter pill in the mouth of many senior military officers especially those who retired before the country embarked on a full democracy march.

How would we have taken the open shout-down by the retired colonel on the Minister of Finance whose office is supposed to supervise the activities of Nigeria Customs, by informing her that the rules have changed and that he was not mandated to be answerable to her but to the president? If the country was still under military dictatorship, I am sure, Colonel Alli would have either slapped the woman minister for interrupting him or ordered her arrest as a “bloody civilian.”

The attitude people bring into office speaks volumes about them. Last week, I requested to meet with the retired Colonel and I was directed to the public relations officer who bluntly told this writer that l should write an official letter and then wait for approval from the office of the Customs helmsman; an approval that may take weeks.

I reminded the Customs spokesman that we are in a digital age and things are done electronically. All that he told me was that that is what the Colonel has tabled before him as his guide-line. I bluntly told him that such is archaic. Such analog mentality cannot move any institution forward in this day of fast information technology which has compressed the world into a global village. If the farmer turned Comptroller of Customs should be informed, the administration that rescued him from a rusticated farm believes in Change and no matter his past orientation, he should be adaptable to change.

CONGRATS !!!

A big well deserved congratulations to these Police officers, who are regular readers of SECURITY FILE and were recently promoted substantive Commissioners of Police. They are Dan MAllam Mohammed, Titus Larmorde, and Sola Davis.