The 20th Inspector General of Police, IGP. Mohammed Adamu, NPM, mni, tenure in office as the Inspector General of Police will be coming to an end on 1st February, 2021, after  a herculean job of clearing part of the rot left being by his immediate predecessor, IGP. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris. Without trying to run down the tenure of IGP. Idris, it is common knowledge within and outside the Nigeria Police Force that the organisation having been repositioned for further reforms and better service delivery by IGP. Solomon Arase, IGP. Idris came on board and took the Nigeria Police Force, dipped it in the dirtiest mud one could think of and set the organisation 15years backward. IGP. Idris performance still resonates till date, albeit in his domestic life.

Kudos and commendation must go to the current outgoing IGP., IGP Adamu who has reformatted the Nigeria Police Force with some unprecedented foundations needed for a better repositioning and total reforms of the Nigeria Police Force. Chiefly among his legacies is the new Police Actt 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill, Implementation of Community Policing agenda, etc. Admittedly, IGP. Adamu’s, wealth of experience nationally and internationally has rubbed off on policing Nigeria. Nigerians can only wish him happy retirement and success in his national and  international aspirations. IGP. Adamu is a hero of our time and his heroic legacies must be passed on to a predecessor who is MOST qualified.

Benjamin Disraeli who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the first Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS (21 Dec., 1804 – 19 April, 1881) said “The legacy of Heroes is the Memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” President Muhammed Buhari is by this appealed to, to ensure that the MOST QUALIFIED Assistant Inspector General of Police is appointed the next number one Cop in Nigeria to build on and improve upon  what IGP Adamu did. It will be a disservice to the Nation especially with her current security situation across the Nation to appoint someone who is not the BEST AMONG EQUALS.

The appointment of the next IGP should be deviod of cultural, ethnic or religious biasness.  We should all be reminded that the Nigeria Police Force is the main and major organisation saddled with the provision of internal security within the country. If the choice is right, every citizen, even the military will not be overstretched as being witnessed now.

President Muhammed Buhari is hereby called upon to take a cue from the United Kingdom Government who in 2010 clamoured for a replacement or reform of the existing police authorities by introducing the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill into Parliament in December 2010. Just as President Muhammed Buhari accented to the new Police Act 2020, the United Kingdom Bill received Royal Assent on 15 September 2011 becoming the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. By November 22, 2012, immediately after the expiration of  the tenure of Police  and Crime Commissioner, just as we have in IGP. Mohammed  Adamu’s tenure, the then existing Police authority framework was replaced with a new structure spelt out in the new Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 which saw to the currently running every four years thereafter.

APPOINT THE NEW IGP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICE ACT, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari is hereby urged to appoint the new Inspector General of Police in accordance with the Police Act 2020, especially with consideration for merit; in terms of academic exposure both nationally and internationally, impeccable professional pedigrees, as well as other enviable qualities that can reposition the Nigeria Police in line with the dreams of Mr. president and all Nigerians.

Major contenders for the enviable position of Inspector General of Police are AIG Dan-Mallam Mohammed, AIG. Dasuki Danbappa Galadanchi, AIG. Usman Alkali, AIG. Sanusi Lemu. AIG. Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa and AIG. Moses  Jitoboh.

Meanwhile, three of these contenders; AIG. Usman Alkali, AIG. Dan-Mallam Mohammed and AIG. Sanusi Lemu have about two more years to their retirement and this runs contrary to the provision of the new Police Act 2020.  AIG. Hafiz Inuwa and AIG. Dasuki Galadanchi have about four years to go while AIG. Moses Jitoboh have eight years to retirement.

From the foregoing, Mr. President is hereby presented with three candidates who first meet up with approved tenure for IGP. in line with the requirement of Police Act 2020. However, other criteria needed for the highly exalted position will equally apply. Below are the brief résumé of  major contenders:

DIG DAN-MALLAM MOHAMMED, fdc.,

He is currently the DIG in charge of Training. He was born on 18th December,1963 and hails from Yar’adua in Local Government Area of Katsina State. He is a graduate of Hausa /Islamic Studies from Bayero University, Kano.  He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on 3rd March, 1990. He had served as former Aide-De-Camp (ADC Police) to then President of Nigeria and C-in-C to President Olusegun Obasanjo.  He equally holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from University of Abuja. He was also a Board member of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). He was Commisioner of Police in Charge of Enugu and Edo Commands.  He is a fellow of the prestigious National Defence College, Course 24. He has attended many courses, conferences and seminars within and outside the country. A minus for him, is that he has less than two years to serve in the Nigeria Police Force. This negates the new Police Act as amended that an IGP must serve for a period of not less than four years.

DIG USMAN ALKALI BABA, fdc.,

Usman  Alkali was born on 1st March,1963 in Geidam, Yobe State. Until his promotion as DIG Force CID, he was Force Secretary at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri, and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Bayero University. He too is a member of Course 22/2014 and fellow of National Defence Col!ege. He had served in various capacities in the police as AIG in charge of Zone 5 Benin comprising of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa State Commands;  AIG in charge of Zones 4 and 7, Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT and Delta Commands amongst others. He was acting DIG in charge of Finance and Administration, as well as the Force Secretary. He too has been caught in the web of retiring in two years time thus negating the new Police Act 2020.

AIG. DASUKI GALADANCHI mni

Recently promoted to the rank of AIG in less than 72 hours to the exit and expiration of the tenure of the outgoing IGP. Adamu, AIG Dasuki was born on January 10, 1966. He joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police as a Universityngraduate and got enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 3rd March, 1990. He was in charge of Oyo State Command SCID, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Ekiti Command and was promoted and deployed to Imo State Command as Commissioner of Police, thereafter the Commissioner of Police in charge of Nigeria Police Cooperative and Multipurpose Society. He is currently the AIG in charge of Police CID annex, Alagbon Close, Lagos. He is an alumnus of the prestigious  National Institute  for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos.

AIG HAFIZ INUWA, mni.

Popularly known by his town’s name Ringim, is currently the AIG in charge of Zone 13, Awka, Anambra State. Born on March 21, 1964 at Ringim in Jigawa State. He too like AIG Dasuki enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 3rd March, 1990. A Bachelor’s degree holder in Mass Communication and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA). He served in various capacities and rose through the rank as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, and Investigation and Intelligence both in Delta State Police Command. He equally was deployed as Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police.  He was Commissioner of Police in charge of both Delta and Cross Rivers Commands. He attended local courses within the Nigeria Police. Just like AIG. Dasuki, he has four more years to retire. He is an alumnus of Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.

AIG. MOSES AMBAKINA JITOBOH, mni

AIG. Jitoboh is the youngest most senior officer in the Nigeria Police Force. Born on 1st June, 1970 and the only Southern Senior officer contending for the exalted IGP position. He is the only contender with the longest remaining years of service as he joined the Nigeria Police Force  on 6 October 1994. Jitoboh was Commissioner  of Police in charge of Adamawa State, CP General Investigations at the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department. He was equally Commissioner of Police in charge of Admin, Department of Research and Planning, Force headquarters. He was subsequently appointed AIG and deployed to head Zone 8 headquartered in Lokoja before he was transferred to Border Patrol.  Through the ranks, he served in the capacities of Aide De Camp to the President, C-in-C Federal Republic of Nigeria,  Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, (CPSO), C-in-C, Federal Republic of Nigeria,  Aide-de-Camp  (ADC) to the Vice President, Feceral Republic of Nigeria. He earlier served as the Principal Security Officer (PSO) to the Executive Governor, Bayelsa State. Just like AIGs Dasuki and Inuwa, he is not encumbered by any provision of the Police Act 2020, he has a period of eight years in the service. He is a multiple degree holder and a PhD candidate in Geographical Information System at the Graduate School of Abia State University. A product of prestigious Harvard University, with  multiple certificates. He holds Certificate in Negotiation and Leadership; Harvard Law School Programme on Negotiation, Harvard University, Boston, USA as well as Certificate in National and  International Security Policy, Harvard Kennedy School for Governance, also at Harvard University. A highly skilled officer in Security and Protection of Very Very Important Person (VVIP) and a certified Mediator and Negotiator. He holds a Master’s Degree in Security and Risk Management from University of Leicester, United Kingdom as well as a Master’s degree in Geographical Information System. He is a fellow of Association of Professional Negotiators and Mediators (APNM) Abuja. He attended the following international courses: Lawful Interception, Criminal investigation and Tele-Strategies, ISS, Dubai UAE; Intelligence Gathering, Analysis Course and Tele Strategies, ISS, Dubai UAE; Mobile Location, Surveillance and Intercept, Telestrategies, ISS, Dubai, UAE; Israeli Security Concept Training for Security Officers and Team Leaders and VIP Protection, Four Troop, Tel Aviv, Israel; Mediation and ADR Trainings, Pulse Institute Africa, Team, Ghana and VIP Protection/Team Leadership Course, London, UK.

He is an alumnus of the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos.

CHOICE BETWEEN MERITOCRACY AND NEPOTISM

The onerous task of choosing the 21st Inspector General of Police rests solely on the Commander in Chief and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Why the task is onerous than ever before is the current security situation and ethnic division and suspicion within the country. The President MUST BE guided by meritocracy. He must present himself like the symbol of Judiciary called “Lady Justice” symbolism of fair, equal administration of the law, without corruption, favour, greed or prejudice.

Objectively and in great service to our great Nation, the three major contenders mentioned above in the persons of AIGs Hafiz Inuwa, Dasuki Galadanchi and Moses Jitoboh; should be viewed based on merits and résumé devoid of their tribal, ethnic and religious affiliations. The good work of IGP. Muhammad Adamu needs continuation from an officer of higher calling and wider exposure so as to improve on the legacies left behind.

Without biasness, the next IGP should have a higher academic qualifications, higher professional experience and greater experience to consolidate on the ongoing reforms.

Just like a popular legal maxim says “Res ipsa loquitor”, the FACTS ARE SO OBVIOUS, A PARTY NEEDS NOT EXPLAIN ANYMORE. Facts about who becomes the next IGP speak loudly for itself. May God help the President to do the needful and QUALIFIED

God bless the Nigeria Police Force!

God bless the President!!

God bless Nigeria!!!