Why should the tenure of IGP be extended?

BY ADNAN TUDUNWADA

When I came across the news of Ibrahim Idris tenure extension as Inspector General of Police, I shook my head and asked, does he deserve a tenure extension? Has he performed up to the expectation of Nigerians? Is the extension in accordance with the law? So many unanswered questions came to my mind.

I’m not a lawyer, I have consulted many lawyers whether the extension of the tenure of Ibrahim Idris is legal. Though there is no official announcement of the extension, the IGP must have succeeded in seeing his extension a reality by mere indication. Since when the news was published on Sunday by the Punch Newspaper, the Presidency is yet to respond on the authenticity of the story.

Whatever, as a patriotic citizen and Public Affairs Commentator, I’m against the tenure extension of Ibrahim Idris for so many reasons, one of this is; he has brought the institution of the police to public ridicule. It is under his watch that the Police have threatened, arrest and intimidate many activists, journalists and the opposition including members of the ruling APC.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, Journalist Samuel Ogundipe, Senator Dino Melaye and Political Activist Deji Adeyanju were not in exception of the IGP’s series of harassment and arrests.

The number of kidnappings in the country increased under his leadership, the Benue massacre where the President himself admitted that the IG failed to abide by his instruction is enough reason why his tenure should not be extended. Imagine an IG that is not answerable to Mr. President?

The killings and abductions in Zamfara, Birnin Gwari and the Farmers/Herders clashes which he failed to show serious commitment in stopping the crisis. He has been busy trying to secure his tenure elongation.

Thousands have been killed in Zamfara, Birnin Gwari and other volatile areas in the country, what has the IG done to stop the killings? Tell me any serious commitment he has made which Nigerians became aware of? Has Nigerians ever lauded his efforts? Ibrahim Idris track record as Inspector General of Police is very poor in the eyes of many Nigerians.

Idris who is due for retirement from service on January 3, 2019 after mandatory 35 years of service should go and pave way for other serious and committed senior officer to take over.

Section 020810 of Public Service Rules 2008 deals on retirement for all grade in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service. No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service. Anything contrary is against the provision of the law.

Section 215 of 1999 constitution as amended doesn’t not give room for extension of service of the IGP, the President can only appoint but no where in the law he is asked to extend tenure of service.

His actions as IG and treatment of the opposition does not display him as a neutral person that will perform his duty with Professionalism, this enough will put fear to the opposition that the President is not committed to conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

Since the President always gives preference to due process and the rule of law, there are many competent senior Police Officers that can perform better than Idris. If the tenure of Mr. Idris will be extended with no cogent reason or as a result of poor track record, I don’t have any hope in having a free, fair and credible polls in 2019, the IGP has displayed so many of his unprofessional conducts in the treatment of the opposition, he has always sided with the government.

Senator Isa Hamma Misau has last year raised an alarm of Corruption, illegal postings/transfers and illegal promotion of Junior officers for money above their superiors by Mr Idris, President Buhari refused to investigate that allegations. I therefore call on Mr. President not to extend the tenure of Ibrahim Idris for the interest of the law and the institution of the Nigerian Police.

Tudunwada is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. He tweets via @adnanmoukhtar