Yar

Yar'Adua, Politicise Not the IGP Post

Tamuno briggs

Sir, kindly give me the opportunity to use your widely read medium of mass communication to appeal to President Umaru Musa Yar’adua not to politicize the appointment of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, IGP. The era of political horse- trading in the appointment of IGP must be over.

There is no doubt that the position of this country’s Chief Police Officer, otherwise known as the Inspector General of Police, IGP should not be toyed with under the guise of political, geographical/zonal, federal character or other considerations. On the whole, the most important consideration in the appointment of IGP should be seniority, maturity and experience.

As the tenure of Mike Okiro comes to a successful end in July this year, the country’s top most position will then be up for grabs. I wish to suggest that the IGP should not be toyed with as in other government appointments. It is no longer secret that the top Chief Police Officers on the awaiting list to take over from Okiro the duty of effectively policing the country is certainly not a long one. It is one that does not need any rumblings and political maneuvers.

Since the indigenisation of the country’s position of the IGP in 1964, Nigeria had so far had 13 indigenous IGPs. Starting from Mr I. O. Edet and ending with Mr Mike Okiro, the position of IGP had all along been considered as a crucial posit that the nation and her nationals should not allow it being toyed with. It is also not an exaggeration to say that all the IGP we had performed creditably well except in a few instances where they over reacted.

Feelers from the IGP office in Abuja indicate that even as at the time Okiro was appointed the IGP indications were that dig Ogbonnaya Onovo was senior to Mike Okiro and therefore, by virtue of that seniority, would have been the IGP. An advantage Onovo had over Okiro was that he was a delight of the officers and men in the service of the Police Force. Onovo’s worth as an incorruptible, no-nonsense and patriotic top Police Office is the talk of the town in and out of the Police. There is no doubt that of all the DIG’s, Onovo is the most qualified to take over the affairs of the police force at a time when the country’s police force is at its lowest ebb. This is so going by the considerations of merit, experience, qualification and quota. In addition to being a lawyer of repute who started the CID and gave it a good foundation, Onovo as the widely acknowledged intelligent officer, came top at the final examinations among his colleagues in National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) Kuru near Jos.

Onovo has all along been a champion of the nationals enjoying a police force that is putting all its energies in the creation of a safer and more secured environment conducive for meaningful socio-economic development through an effective crime prevention and control. I have no doubt in my mind that DIG Onovo is capable of restoring the confidence and trust of the people in the police force and its officers and men.

Mr. President, as the most senior police Officer, Onovo should automatically be made to take over as the IGP. Assuming quota is going to be used as the basis of appointing the next IGP, Onovo in addition to being the most senior and experienced, deserves to be the next IGP. His zone- South-East has never produced an IGP. Since the country’s indigenisation of the police force in 1964, the country’s major tribes of Hausa, Yoruba, Ibibio, Efik, Kanuri, Fulfulde and Igbira have occupied the position. Okiro, though an Igbo by tribe however comes from Port Harcourt in South- South Nigeria. So as far as the Igbos and the South East are concerned, they have not headed the force. They now feel this is their time and hoped that they will not be denied the opportunity to take it without much ado. Already there is a feeling of disenchantment among Igbos within and outside the country. The Igbos should not feel hated in their country. It does not augur well for the unity, growth, peace and progress of the country. They must be carried along in the successful execution of the President’s 7-point agenda and reunification of the country.