MD Abubakar: A Radical Professional Officer to the Rescue

By

Sule Ya’u Sule

suleysule@yahoo.com

 

The recent appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Dikko (MD) Abubakar as acting Inspector General of Police has created a revolution of rising expectation from those who know the stuff the man is made of.  It has also elicited mainly positive reaction from quarters which mean well for the nation and its often maligned Police Force.  Optimism is high and those compatriots with understanding of what it requires to lead a Police Force in the 21st Century seriously believe the new IGP will make a difference.  They draw their optimism from MD Abubakar’s solid resume as a radical, brilliant and professional officer.  The Nigeria Police has performed abysmally in recent times and suffers serious image crisis.  It has been largely inconsequential in tackling terrorism and other security challenges facing the country.  Its human rights record is among the most atrocious in the world.  Corruption in the larger society has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Force.  Security experts serious doubt its helpfulness as an institution in fighting or preventing crime or even in routine neighborhood watch.  Frequent change of guard at the top has robbed the Force of any opportunity for meaningful and sustainable reform which it critically needs to reinvent itself.  A sense of helplessness has fuelled increased agitation for State Police by persons who rightly or wrongly attribute the declining fortunes of the Force to the rigid centralization of Command and Administration structures.

 

It is tempting to lapse into despondency or cynicism when a new IGP into town promising reform because the tough rhetoric of reform mouthed by previous incumbents did not translate into action.  Like a ritualized habit, every IGP makes the usual noises about reforming the Police at inaugural meetings but they all left the institution poorer, far more corrupt and more distrusted by the public.  Positions in themselves to not translate into capacity unless change is driven by integrity, passion and positive attitude.  Those who promise change must embody it in character and form.  Previous Police leaderships failed to effect change either in the structures, effectiveness or public perception of the Police simply because they themselves did not embody the change they preached.

 

In comes MD Abubakar, career operations officer per excellence, the man of action who enjoys incredible goodwill rare among his peers, a thoroughbred crime-fighter.  It was an appointment based strictly on merit and which the public has applauded as spot.  A round peg in a round hole, they say.  While many will readily grant him the benefit of the doubt, there are others who have adopted a wait-and-see attitude, well aware that it would take gargantuan efforts to clean up the mess he is inheriting.  It is imperative to note here that few IGPs in recent history have enjoyed comparable gush of goodwill from within and outside the Force as MD Abubakar and there is ample justification to expect genuine reforms in the Police from an Inspector General who has engendered positive change and personified exemplary discipline in previous positions he held.

 

What MD Abubakar brings to his new position is his integrity, passion for the job, a track record in fighting crime, untainted professionalism and incredible humility.  A well-trained and meticulous officer, he earned his pips for effectively handling crisis situations at key moments in parts of the country.  The man served in Kano, Plateau, Abia and Kwara States with distinction and his tenure is fondly remembered for tackling crime and reining in the corrupt tendencies of the officers and men under his command.  He was very effective in Lagos as CP.   His efforts at curtailing the excesses of Policemen especially at checkpoints are well documented.  In all commands he served, he endeared himself to those who came across him.  The testimonies abound on his extended efforts to communicate his tough anti-corruption stance.  He always warned the public to desist from offering bribe to Police men.  He never tired of educating his men on how corruption destroys their lives and career.  Officers who served under him variously described him as being as tough as nail, resilient and a detribalized officer who would not compromise discipline.

 

History beckons on the new IGP to restore public confidence in the Police.  MD Abubakar has started well by laying down a Six-Point Reform Agenda with strong emphasis on improving Capacity and Accountability.  It is already winning him critical acclaim.  This is one time the successful implementation of Police Reform Programme is directly linked to the survival of the country, more so as the security situation in the country has created deep panic among the citizenry even as many victims of terrorism are trooping back to their home states.  It is gratifying to hear the new helmsman’s radical proposals to overhaul and update the intelligence gathering arm of the Police, equip and train undercover agents to infiltrate criminal gangs and terrorist cells.  Intelligence gathering, training and access to modern forensic technologies are the modus operandi of modern Police work.  Abubakar, often praised as a dedicated crime-fighter and strategic thinker is living up to the hype.  He plans to expose his officers and men to the best training tactics and equipment in order to safeguard themselves and the country.  He has spoke eloquently of his readiness to rely on Surveillance Cameras, DNA Analysis, Computerized License Plate Scanners and other high-tech world where criminals think far ahead of law enforcement agents, this is indeed a welcome move.

 

His new proposal ‘Neighbourhood Viewpoint’ that determines the crime and disorder priorities from the community perspective which he intends to inaugurate and make central to the new policing plan is reform in the right direction.  The best Police practices have their foundation in citizen vigilance.  Criminals must be identified and reported to people in whose midst they live.  His plan to survey every neighborhood in the country to determine crime and disorder priorities from the community perspective, the cornerstone of his ‘Neighbourhood Viewpoint’ suggests that MD Abubakar comes to the job with a blueprint and is the most prepared officer to be appointed IGP in recent history.

 

MD Abubakar is proposing to delegate effective authority to AIGs and this initiative is the most effective response to leadership failure at the State Commands and the attendance clamour for state Police by exasperated Nigerians.  Zonal AIGs would be empowered to make administrative and operational decisions in their areas and would be held responsible for acts of lawlessness and disorder in their various zones.

 

Another of public concern, flagrant human rights violation by the Police, is captured in MD Abubakar’s radar.  He has warned that he will not tolerate the act of detaining suspects beyond the statutory 24-hours.  Suspects are either charged to Courts with prosecutable evidence or released.  Rights violation and corruption are possibly the areas that earn the Police the most public odium and his decision to address them is elating.  He has warned that any senior officer flouting the directive would be sanctioned as he plans to set up a Monitoring Team to enforce compliance at all State and Zonal commands.

 

Nigeria desperately needs an IGP of MD Abubakar’s caliber.  Here is a new Police Boss committed to radical reform of the force and community ownership of crime fighting and prevention.  His pledge that the Police under him would partner with the people in the communities, irrespective of their social status, economic positions and religious beliefs is reassuring.  It is also heartening to hear a new IGP reassure a beleaguered nation that “the basic task of law and order confronting the force are surmountable, it only requires qualitative leadership and partnership with relevant agencies and the citizens”.  It depicts a thoroughbred and highly professional officer ready to confront a nation’s criminal tormentors and masterminds.

 

SULE contributed this piece from Kano.