Akwa Ibom tackles IGP over removal of police commissioner

The Akwa Ibom state government has accused Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, of mischief over the removal of John Abang, commissioner of police in the state.

Abang was redeployed from the state after the crisis which rocked the state house of assembly.

Suspected thugs had invaded the assembly over the attempt to declare the seats of some lawmakers vacant.

In a statement, Charles Udoh, commissioner of information, accused the IGP of working against the interest of the state.

Udoh alleged that Abang was replaced in line with the demands of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It is even much of concern that the news of his transfer was broken by some members of the state’s opposition party on the social media, with notes of excitement,” he said in a statement.

“The inference is that the Commissioner for Police was hurriedly withdrawn from Akwa Ibom for doing his professional duty responsibly

“Apart from the fact that the outgoing CP barely spent a month in the State, the circumstances surrounding his removal is a mockery to the nation and a contrast to the insecurity battle of the federal government.

“Why should an officer who successfully resisted the invasion of hoodlums and professionally protected an institution of government be rewarded with unceremonial removal from office? Ordinarily, such feat in other climes would have attracted promotion and commendation.

“This is a sharp pointer to the sad narrative that the force is tilting its political pendulum to favour a particular political divide.”

Describing the removal of Abang as a shame, Udoh said the government is aware of the “plan of the APC to plunge the state into chaos”.

“The danger this portends to our democracy is better imagined than seen. We are shocked to see this action from the Police that should unbiasedly serve the interest of all.” he said.

“Sadly, the precedent the force has set now encourages anyone to take laws into his hand ostensibly because the power from above is strong enough to shield the culprit.

“We are aware of the APC’s plans to simulate insecurity in Akwa Ibom State all for the 2019 general election and the police by this action is allegedly aiding the retrogressive idea.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to avoid being drawn into unnecessary gimmicks and pranks by the APC, whose principal actors are hell bent on instigating crises in the state to disrupt the smooth sail of the forthcoming general elections.”