North Trades IGP Seat For Customs Top Job

North trades IGP seat for Customs top job

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 29.06.2009

THE search for the successor to the seat of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, took an interesting dimension at the weekend with the revelation that the North has opted out of the race.

Sources close to the seat of power confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that Northern political calculations now favour the seat of Comptroller General of Customs (CGS), which will be vacant in August.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that some Northern powerbrokers had made it clear to the incumbent administration that the North would prefer to occupy the seat of the Customs boss, when the tenure of the current CGS, Dr. Bernard Shaw Nwadialo, expires.

It was gathered that the North prefers the Customs job when placed side by side the IGP post. It was learnt that many powerbrokers in the North believed that the post of Customs boss was more relevant to the needs of the area at this time.

The decision, which is being closely guarded, is said to have created a frenzy among top politicians in the three Southern geopolitical zones, over who will produce Okiro’s successor.

But it was learnt that the South-East, which had hitherto believed that it would be easy to secure the seat for Mr. Ogbona Onovo, this time, was said to have been jolted by moves from the two other zones to clinch the seat.

The Presidency was said to have shortlisted five Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) as possible successors to Okiro, who retires on July 24.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that leaders of the South-East had planned to massively oppose the choice of the new governor of Central Bank (CBN), Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on the basis of non-observance of the Federal Character principle but they backed down when they felt that it would be easier to push the Presidency to pick Onovo as the new IG.

The source said that the revelation that the two other zones from the South were equally in the race and had competent hands that could take over as IGP led to a series of meetings by the South-East leaders last week.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that a search team constituted by the Presidency had already scrutinised the records of the serving six DIGs, while five were been shortlisted with only one said to have completely lost out.

A recommendation was, however, still being awaited from the Police Service Commission (PSC), headed by Mr. Parry Osanyande. But the decision by the North to withdraw from the race may inform the withdrawal of the two Northern candidates from the race, leaving the Southern officers to slug it out.

A source confirmed that one other reason why the North decided to back out of the race for IGP is the fact that the zone has already produced the Minister of Police Affairs.

The Presidency panel was said to have screened the records of all DIGs, including Ogbona Onovo (Enugu), Uba Ringim (Jigawa), Israel Ajao (Osun), Declan Uzoma (Imo), Udom Ekpoudom (Akwa-Ibom) and John Ahmadu (Taraba).

With the thinking in the North, the government may have narrowed its search for a new IGP among most senior DIGs to Onovo, Ajao, Uzoma and Ekpoudom, who are from the South.

Details obtained by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that the trio of Onovo, Ajao and Uzoma joined the force the same day in 1977, while Ekpoudom joined in 1981. Onovo was, however, promoted ahead of his coursemates to fill the South-East quota before they all became DIGs.

A source said that the search party had decided to look at educational qualifications, command experience, as well as the professional competence of each officer and performance at the various duty posts in the past.

When asked about the intensity of the succession battle, a source said: “The entire South is involved in this. Some people have talked about South-East having the upper hand but geographical calculations was of no effect here, because an Igbo man is an Igbo man, whether in Delta or in Ebonyi. Just as the Yoruba from Kogi and Kwara cannot say they are not Yoruba, because they are from the North.”

http://www.tribune.com.ng/29062009/news/news1.html

Qualifications and Competence sacrificed on the alter of Ethnic sentiments

 I wonder oooooo 
GBAM!

I really wonder why the particular interest in customs,Nigeria;we hail thee

lwkmd

When are we gonna put all these tribalism and ethnicity aside? WE ARE ONE NIGERIA IRRESPECTIVE OF REGION OR TRIBE!!

The most competent should get the job! Tribe or zone is inconsequential.

my thoughts exactly

Terrible !!!

Total rubbish and outrageous, are the northerners making the decision or the puppet called Yar AR dull?

This appointment should be base on merit and competency

Nigeria is a fatal experiment. A gross mistake.

Ohhh yes, so they will continue illegally milking of money from importers whose 90% are Igbos. Let them do all they can now while it lasts, cause once Igbo person takes the sit of presidency, all this unfortunate policies must be reversed.

rebranding at work

You should know better that aside from oil revenue, the customs and excise is the next biggest revenue source for the nigerian govt, hence the urge for the northerners to control it. Their proxy, a yoroba man, Bode George, the former Nigeria ports authority chairman stole over 80 Billion naira, (EFCC is still on him, you can google and read more about that name) so imagine how much money that comes in as revenue for the govt.

My guy speak for yourself, you cant speak for all yorubas talkless of distinct ethnic groups found in Edo, delta and Bayelsa state, WHo told you they want to join you in Republic of Benin?

Typical Nigerian mentality! The office of comptroller general of customs is more lucrative than that of inspector general of police so why blame them for going after the fattest bone?