Police reform: Buhari wished Arase worked with him longer, says Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, says President Muhammadu Buhari wished Solomon Arase, a former inspector-general of police (IGP), worked with him longer.

Although ex-President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Arase in 2015, he worked under Buhari until he retired in 2016.

He was the 18th IGP.

In his weekly article, Adesina said Buhari, who has always had it in mind to reform the police, was impressed with Arase’s performance and wished he worked with him “to birth the police of his dreams”.

“The president told me of the police of his dreams, and how he wished he got someone who would translate the dream into reality,” Adesina wrote.

“Talking of reform of the police, I know the mind of the President on that issue. Sometime in the early days of the first term of the administration, I had dropped into the house one night, as I do once in a while. And it was a few days to the exit of the then Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, who was going into retirement.

“The President told me how much he had been impressed with Arase, and how he regretted that the man spent just about a year with him. He then told me of the police of his dreams.

“Many times, President Buhari had said it was the right of protesters to indicate their displeasure, as long as it was done within the limits of decency and the law. Disbandment of SARS, he said was only the first step in what would be comprehensive police reforms.”

There has been unrest across the country over police brutality which triggered the #EndSARS campaign.

In his nationwide broadcast on Thursday, Buhari asked protesters to leave the streets, saying their voices have been heard.