Jonathan endorses kinsman to succeed Ringim as Police IG By Goodluck Araya

President Goodluck Jonathan is causing ripples in the Police Force as he pencils down his kinsman as the next Inpector-General of Police.


LIKE a warrior standing alone in a forest surrounded by ferocious animals, President Goodluck Jonathan appears undaunted but even determined to stir up more controversies.

This time, he is drawing the ire of senior police officers. Most senior police officers are feeling demoralised and have reportedly started drawing the battle-line following strong hints that Jonathan has finally settled for his kinsman, a junior officer, to succeed the Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Hafiz Ringim, who started retirement leave last Tuesday and is expected to bow out on March 1.

This is coming at a time of heightening insecurity in the country caused by the campaign of violence launched by the Boko Haram Islamic sect and the widespread protests that have greeted the sudden removal of oil subsidy, which is almost crippling his government.

Investigations by The Moment On Sunday reveal that the officer, a Commissioner of Police (CP) who hails from the Niger Delta region of the country, has been endorsed by Jonathan to become the next IGP.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) is also the President’s kinsman. He is Andrew Azazi, a retired army general, who succeeded a northerner (Mohammed Aliyu Gusau) in October 2010.

Already, many senior police officers of the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General (AIG) of Police and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIG), who are eying the plum position of IGP are said to be battling the president through his political associates. Jonathan is an Ijaw man from the Niger Delta region.

Some of the aggrieved senior officers are said to be lobbying influential ministers and senators to prevail on the President to shelve the idea.

Those who spoke with The Moment On Sunday under strict anonymity to avoid being victimised, argued that if a CP is eventually appointed IG, all the AIGs and DIGs as well as some CPs will be forced to retire, thereby cutting short their careers.

A senior officer reasoned that ‘if a CP is appointed, there will be mass promotion, because apart from the DIGs and AIGs, some CPs who are far senior to that CP will be forced to retire.

But that is not healthy for the system.’ According to the officer, those to benefit from such promotion will not put in their best because they will feel insecure that their careers could also be cut short any moment.

Another senior officer argued that elevating a CP to the position of IGP ‘could also breed corruption, as those to be promoted do not know when they could be forced to retire.

Some of those who may be compulsorily retired still have three to five years more in service and have not planned for retirement, and suddenly you ask them to go without any offence, you are indirectly telling those still in service to enrich themselves because they could also be asked to go abruptly any day.’

A senior officer from the north noted that ‘it will send wrong signal of openly exhibiting tribal sentiments in running his administration.

‘This is not good for him, especially with the crisis of the fuel subsidy removal that is already making his administration unpopular.’

However, some young officers who spoke in favour of appointing a CP as IGP believe that such an action will bring massive promotion and ‘inject new blood into the system,’ pointing out that ‘some of some us are supposed to be CPs and AIGs by now, but quota system kept us where we are now.’

But another senior officer countered their argument, saying: ‘They don’t know what they are talking about. Some of them don’t have the experience to tackle crisis if they are posted to head sensitive positions.’

Rather than yield to pressures from the senior officers, Jonathan is said to be more concerned about how to avoid bad blood and low morale among senior officers when he gives the apex job to the favoured kinsman.

The Moment On Sunday learnt that he is contemplating directing Ringim to recommend the CP to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for promotion to the rank of an AIG.

There are 20 AIGs in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and if that clever arrangement scales through, Jonathan would have calmed the nerves of the AIGs who would have been forced to retire, should his kinsman appoint and IGP from the rank of a CP.

Already, there is no AIG representing the South-South geo-political zone – the only AIG who represented that zone, Felix Ogbaudu, having retired last August after reaching the compulsory retirement age or service.

In the circumstances, promoting the CP to the rank of an AIG and subsequently appoint him IGP might as well be a masterstroke.

Some of those itching to clinch the exalted post of IGP are believing that the CP would not be appointed and have continued lobbying kitchen cabinet members of President Jonathan. Some are said to be consulting spiritualists to get the President’s favour.

If Jonathan eventually bows to pressure and follows due process, he will appoint one of the DIGs to replace Ringim. The most senior DIGs are Azubuko Udah in charge of Administration from Abia State and Mrs. Ivy Okoronkwo in charge of Force Headquarters (FHQ), also from Abia State.

The only DIG from the South-South is a Muslim from Edo State, Mohammed Yusuf.

Sources at FHQ hinted that Mrs. Okoronkwo is selling her credentials as a top female cop who can do better what her male colleagues can do.

She is said to be convincing Aso Rock through her contacts, that she was the first female cop to head a state police command during which her performance was excellent. She is also said to be arguing that she performed well when she was a zonal AIG, following which she was promoted DIG in 2010 along with DIG Udah and others.

Commenting on her chances, a source in Aso Rock told The Moment On Sunday during the week that ‘the country is experiencing serious security challenges and this is not the best time to consider a female officer for IG position.’

Further investigations by The Moment On Sunday reveal that Udah stands a better chance of clinching the IGP position.

Records reveal that Udah knows most of the northern parts of the country like his palm.

For one, he spent over 10 years of his police career in various parts of the north as an operational officer. Also in the Southwest, he worked in Zone 2 police command comprising Lagos and Ogun states, as a senior investigating officer.

Before his elevation to DIG rank, he was AIG in charge of Zone 2 command. He was also AIG in charge of Zone 5 Benin, Edo State.

Interestingly, Udah, as AIG in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State, conceptualised the Amnesty programme, which has brought peace to the Niger Delta. He submitted the proposal through then IGP Mike Okiro, who was said to have successfully convinced the late President Musa Yar’Adua, using Jonathan, who was Vice President at the time, to do so.

Apart from the two frontrunners, some AIGs and CPs who are believed to be in the race are said to be lobbying Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clarke, an Ijaw leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as influential religious and traditional rulers.

Among the AIGs, two are said to be from the North, one each from the South-West and South-East. Among the CPs in the race, two are from the North and one from the South-west, two each from the South-East and the South-South.

Apart from Ringim, two DIGs in charge of Works and Operations and four assistant inspectors-general of Police (AIGs) with about 20 commissioners of Police (CPs), have begun their retirement leave last January 3.

The four AIGs are those in Zone 1 Kano, Zone 4, Makurdi, Zone 5 Benin, Zone 8 Lokoja and Zone 10 Sokoto.

Of the 180 CPs in the NPF, 20 are retiring in March. Among them are those in charge of Ondo, Katstina, Kebbi and Ogun states as well as the CP in charge of Ports Authority Police and ‘F’ Department.

Investigations by The Moment On Sunday reveal that the IGP and most of the officers are expected to bow out from the Force on March 1, having reached the mandatory retirement age or having completed 35 years in service.

Dependable sources at Force Headquarters told The Moment On Sunday that most of the officers have forwarded their retirement letters to the Police Service Commission for approval since last November.

It was further gathered that the PSC has equally approved the retirement of the officers. But a senior official of PSC (names withheld) who was contacted on phone yesterday confirmed the retirement of the IGP but, said ‘I am not aware if any DIG or AIG or CP is retiring with him.’

Meanwhile, DIG Ganiyu Dawodu who died recently in a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos State and who represented the South-west geo-political zone, would be replaced next week with the new AIG in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Chris Ola believed to be the most senior AIG.

Source: http://www.momentng.com/en/news/5890/jonathan-endorses-kinsman-to-succeed-ringim-as-police-ig--.html

If GEJ's kinsman is the most competent, then GEJ should appoint him fortwith. However all the cries about Federal Character etc may be at odds with this.

I hope GEJ isn't turning into Chicken Licken and running into his fox hole, afraid the sky is going to fall on his poor little head.

VoodooDoll:

[size=14pt]If GEJ's kinsman is the most competent, then GEJ should appoint him fortwith.[/size] However all the cries about Federal Character etc may be at odds with this.

GBAMMMMM

I support GEJ on this one. If the previous IG cannot safe guild the lives of people, then he should be booted out. Shekena

head of sss-ekpenyong from south-south

national security adviser-azazi from south-south

head of army-ihejirika from south east

Now you want to make IG a southerner?
Jonathan should not try it at all!He should appoint someone from the middle-belt if he considers the core north too risky!

police that stand on the road collecting illegal road permit from taxi.

onomeasike:

head of sss-ekpenyong from south-south

national security adviser-azazi from south-south

head of army-ihejirika from south east

Now you want to make IG a southerner?
Jonathan should not try it at all!He should appoint someone from the middle-belt if he considers the core north too risky!

Chief of defense staff is from where?
Chief of naval staff is from where?
Chief of air staff is from where?
Head of civil defense corps is from where?
Not to mention head of customs (also arms bearing)

Who were in those positions when Yaradua was in charge?
Who were there when OBJ, IBB, Abacha, Abubakir, Gowon, Shagari, Buhari etc were in charge?

Anyways, until we get a name, this is one of them rumors from hell. I should be happy that the two most senior and likely candidates are from the SE. But these are trying times and GEJ must take any action he deems okay for his own security and more importantly for the security of the citizens.

Nchara:

Chief of defense staff is from where?
Chief of naval staff is from where?
Chief of air staff is from where?
Head of civil defense corps is from where?
Not to mention head of customs (also arms bearing)

Who were in those positions when Yaradua was in charge?
Who was there when OBJ, IBB, Abacha, Abubakir, Gowon, Shagari, Buhari etc were in charge?

Anyways, until we get a name, this is one of them rumors from hell. I should be happy that the two most senior and likely candidates are from the SE. But these are trying times and GEJ must take any action he deems okay for his own security and more importantly for the security of the citizens.

chief of defence staff-s/west
cheif of navy staff-ibrahim Ola-yoruba from ilorin
head of civil defence-s/west
chief of airstaff-northerner


the head of security is not balanced!

onomeasike:


chief of defence staff-s/west
cheif of navy staff-ibrahim Ola-yoruba from ilorin
head of civil defence-s/west
chief of airstaff-northerner


the head of security is not balanced!

The bolded is a northerner. It is more than balanced.Or are you saying that it isnt balanced until there are more northers than southners?

The report is the same old same old Nigerian journalism. We dont focus on important things, except the same old shyt from generation to generation. I guess it was okay for the journalist that Theo Orji put his son as part of his cabinet abi?

Leave GEJ to do his work, he knows wot he is doing

onomeasike:



cheif of navy staff-ibrahim Ola-yoruba from ilorin

What does that mean again? That he is no longer a northerner?

I pray GEJ doesnt make the same mistake he made in appointing Ringim over more qualified DIGs like Ajao. If he chooses a 'mere' compol, it means he has to retire many senior officers and elevate many junior ones to fill the vacant post. Rookies on board in turbulent security scenario really isnt what Nigeria needs now

Nigeria's police force and security services have always been infested with tribalism. So no transformation there.

VoodooDoll:

I hope GEJ isn't turning into Chicken Licken and running into his fox hole, afraid the sky is going to fall on his poor little head.

you are a big FOOL , when IBB , ABACHA , OBJ empowered and enriched his Kins men where you sleeping

Despite the nepotism,Nigeria has turned into Iraq where bombs are used freely under his rule.In fact,he should just employ all the ND ex-militants into the police and army so we can feel safe.Nonsense !

If his Kinsman can lead the Force well then what are we waiting for?

People are funny but only in Nigeria. How can an inexperienced junior officer be promoted to hold a national police force over more experienced senior officers? This is not politics that you vote for the hierarchy was established for a reason. When it was time to select a competent leader, people selected the dumbest bottom in the world as president. Now, in an organized system with clear rules, people are suggesting that rules be set aside and go 3 levels below to select an IG? No, problem we will see how this plays out.