Independent Newspapers Nigeria












Homepage►
Views►
Blogs►

“He who must come to equity must do so with clean hands’’—Wise Saying

Apparently basking in the euphoria of the large turnout of personalities at the launch of his book: ‘’Security & Justice: The Pathway for Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria’’, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, who was full of smiles, used the occasion to sermonize on the need for justice as a prerequisite for peace and national integration.

While watching him on Channels Television pontificate on the concept of justice, I saw HYPOCRISY (emphasis mine) writ large. It is equivalent to a sinister case of a criminal reciting the Ten Commandants of God and emphasizing gratuitously on ‘’thou shall not steal’’ (no insult intended). With all due respect, the records of the GP’s service so far does not seem to be in conformity with the message he is trying to pass across to his readers in that book. It is more of, ‘do as I say, but not as I do’.

When he was appointed as acting Inspector-General of Police and later confirmed as a substantive one, he appeared fulfilled, but not jubilant. As a matter of fact, considering some alleged issues underpinning his emergence; Idris cuts a pitiable picture of a bride or groom in the church, who fears that the priest might call off the wedding because of a last minute objection from a former lover.

Since he assumed office, the IGP has allegedly been behaving like the lord of the manor, waving his supposed moral credentials like a talisman, even when it is patently clear that it is all a make-belief; probably hyped to bamboozle unwary members of the public.

Even a few Nigerians, who had initially invested their hopes on him that he has the wherewithal to positively turn things around in the Nigeria Police, are today biting their fingers in considerable regret because he has allegedly messed them up, so much so that his critics are already whispering in hushed tones that he has become a huge moral burden on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a renowned anti-corruption crusader whose integrity is well known and respected worldwide.

In that book that was launched with fanfare, the author, talked glowingly about reconciliation, stressing that justice is where there is the same application of standard or yardstick as stipulated by law to all, no matter their socio-cultural differences. He also went further in chapter 3 to review the contributions of justice to reconciliation. Wonders, it is often said, shall never cease. Is it this same IGP Ibrahim Idris, who has established a reputation for selective justice that is talking about justice, peace and reconciliation? Or has he forgotten that peace cannot thrive in the absence of justice? How can he be talking about justice when he chooses which Court judgment to obey and which not to obey?


Out of several Court Orders that the IGP has allegedly disobeyed, that of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) stands out like a totem pole. It would be recalled that while the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill was receiving legislative attention, the IGP, allegedly in one off-the-cuff moment, disclosed that instead of the Federal Government to increase Police allocation, it was considering taking over Peace Corps of Nigeria. Thereafter, he allegedly vowed to clamp down on the Corps, a promise that was fulfilled on Tuesday, February 28th 2017, when the new Corporate Headquarters of the Corps was sealed-off after a successful commissioning ceremony that was attended by the crème de la crème of the society. And the Police have ensured that the office remained under lock and key to the police
And the IGP who is now talking glibly about justice, peace and reconciliation has paid deaf ears to Orders of Honorable Justices Gabriel Kolawole (of 9th November 2017) and John Tsoho (15th January 2018) that the office be immediately unsealed.

One of the huge question marks on the IGP’s integrity is the allegation of corruption leveled against him by Senator Isa Misau, who alleged that he collected about N120 billion as bill for special security services to corporate bodies, such as oil firms, and highly placed individuals through a process he called “series of fraudulent practices in the running of the Nigerian Police.”

And to the consternation of all lovers of due process and legality, the AGF, instead of properly investigating the matter with a view to determining the culpability or otherwise of the IGP, stood legal jurisprudence on its head by filing charges against the accuser, Sen. Misau. This is simply unheard of. In saner climes, the IGP would have thrown in the towel long before ago, because with his integrity been called to question he no longer has the moral right to still cling to that office.

Another issue that has made the IGP’s continued stay in office irksome is his alleged partisan role in the farmers and herdsmen clashes in Benue State, which he said was as a result of the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

The unfortunate claim by the IGP indicates that some of those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property and maintaining law and order have abdicated their duty and become accomplices with those undermining the very existence of the country.

Under Ibrahim Idris leadership, the Nigeria Police was rated as the worst Police in the World by the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) last year. Surprisingly, Nigeria Police was rated behind countries like Rwanda, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Congo DRC etc. It is also under Idris leadership that a Public Relations Officer will have the audacity of calling a sitting governor names without been reprimanded. Yet, in spite of all his glaring failures, the Police authorities have continued to offend the sensibilities of Nigerians through paid adverts, which is aired daily on Prime Time network of NTA, on how the Force has suddenly metamorphosed into an efficient institution under Ibrahim Idris leadership, which is falsehood elevated to power 4.

On the whole, the IGP Idris cannot be preaching the gospel of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation on one hand, while recklessly abridging the fundamental rights of others with impunity on the other hand. That is why I find it pretty difficult to believe that he is the author of that book that was launched recently in Lagos.

Source??