There have been several calls recently for the appointment of a new
Inspector General of Police (IGP) particularly as the tenure of the
current holder of that office, Ibrahim Idris Kpotun expired on
Tuesday, 3rd January, 2019 after reaching the mandatory 35 years in
active service. He was formerly appointed on 21st March 2016.
However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC), opposes the idea of retiring the IGP at this time. In
a statement released late on Thursday evening, MURIC contended that it
will be foolhardy to retire the IGP five or six weeks to a general
election.
“Election period is a very sensitive period. Anything can happen and
we all know the kind of security challenges our country is facing.
There is no doubt that IG Idris Kpotun must have perfected his
strategy for maintaining law and order during the coming general
election. Some instructions must have been given to the state
commands. Certain arrangements must also have been made to put all
police formations in a state of readiness.
“A new IGP around this time will naturally make one or two changes
because styles differ. This may not really augur well because the
police force needs stability and continuity in an electioneering
period. We know that administration is a continuum but you don’t
change the goal post in the middle of the game.
“Seasoned administrators know that unless there is a force majeure, it
will be unwise to change the officer who planned a project at the
point of implementation. No university will change the head of a
programme on the eve of an accreditation exercise.
“We are perturbed by the rancorous voices of dissent over this matter.
Interestingly enough, this IGP will not be the first whose tenure was
extended. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo extended Sunday Ehindero’s tenure by
twelve months while Musa Yaradua also extended Mike Okiro’s tenure. So
what is so new this time around?”
MURIC in the statement signed by its director and founder, Ishaq
Akintola, a professor of Islamic Studies, blamed politicians for not
thinking Nigeria.
“Equally disturbing is the fact that it is mainly members of the
opposition with their cronies, lackeys, court jesters and boot-lickers
who are making the loudest calls. This does not look good enough. Are
some people afraid of their own shadows? Is it the fear of past deeds?
We remember that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan used the police to
harass state governors. Is someone afraid of reprisals? We appear to
be thinking of grabbing power at all cost. We are not thinking of
Nigeria.
“This is exactly what is missing in our politicians today. There is
acute desertification of statesmanship whereas the same politicians
who are rooting for the victory for their political parties today will
be the first to defect to another party whenever their personal and
narrow interests are threatened. We lack loyalty, moral principle and
a clearly identified political ideology. What we can see now is that
politicians are only thinking of 2019 election whereas what we need
are statesmen who will be thinking of Nigeria after the elections. Who
did this to Nigeria?
“In conclusion, MURIC charges President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of IGP Ibrahim Idris far beyond the election period in order to
ensure a hitch-free 2019 general elections as well as post-election
stability and to ignore all protestations to the contrary. We urge
Nigerian politicians to think Nigeria, to have faith in the system, to
imbibe principled politicization and to inculcate a veritable
political ideology”.
