[size=20pt]North trades IGP seat for Customs top job[/size]

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

JJYOU:

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.

At least they are fighting to put their own man but the power brokers from the south will collect bribe and put somebody from the north. Sometimes i feel that we from the south collectively gave them ground to cheat and do as they wish on us.

Let them do as they like, Nigeria to me is survival of the fittest.

Qualifications and Competence sacrificed on the alter of Ethnic sentiments

I THINK IS TIME WE TELL

  THOSE ABOKIS THAT THEY SHOULD MIND THEIR CATTLE.

Emperoh:

Qualifications and Competence sacrificed on the alter of Ethnic sentiments

I wonder oooooo

Saintb:

I THINK IS TIME WE TELL

THOSE ABOKIS THAT THEY SHOULD MIND THEIR CATTLE.

GBAM!

JJYOU:

[size=20pt]North trades IGP seat for Customs top job[/size]

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 29.06.2009

The Presidency was said to have shortlisted five Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs)

@ Mr Taiwo Adisa

It's Deputy Inspectors General

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

Saintb:

I THINK IS TIME WE TELL

THOSE ABOKIS THAT THEY SHOULD MIND THEIR CATTLE.

Their CATTLE is NIGERIA and they are minding it well.

rasputinn:

@ Mr Taiwo Adisa

It's Deputy Inspectors General

And it is DIsG.

lwkmd

Project Nigeria is going no where. Look at the manner the leaders are playing chess with our collective destiny. It's shameful.

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.

See how the affair of a nation is being run.
A nation with people of competence all in the name of ethnicity/
This is pathetic and insane, and you all wonder how come Nigeria is on her kneels?

And we Yorubas say NO to Ethnocracy form of goverment. Ethnocracy is not democracy. It is two different thing. We say remove the Yorubas, edo, delta and bayelsa into Benin republic and make the north have 70% of the oil and 90% of the land.

are you speaking for the yoruba race or for yourself?
i think it is high time people like you learnt to know the difference between personal opinion and collective opinion. in the elementary school we learnt it as 'singular and plural'.

i think nairalanders should be a bit more serious on issues raised at the forum. so far very very few meaningful contibutions have been posted on this and other topics under discussion. most nairalanders are just feeding themselves with the evergreen ethnic thrash. if the rambling in the nairaland represent the how the youth think and act, then there is no solution for nigeria's problems or challenges however we may like to view it. at least we should be profering (or postulating, where we can not profer) some possible (and probably) practical/workable solutions to the problems/challenges of the society whihch we are highlighting (even though they are glaring). permit me to join the religious in saying 'na only God go help niger'.
God blees nigeria.

eruogun:

Project Nigeria is going no where. Look at the manner the leaders are playing chess with our collective destiny. It's shameful.

my thoughts exactly

klas:

Their CATTLE is NIGERIA and they are minding it well.

Gba!

Emperoh:

Qualifications and Competence sacrificed on the alter of Ethnic sentiments

Terrible !!!

dem don come again o! these men just sit wherever & choose what they want & who the cap fits,
, & so shall it be! no thots for competence, qualification or any other +ve criteria.

& whether you like it or not, it is shoved & rammed hook, line & sinker down our throats,

no wonder Mr Incumbent could come out on National TV & say '', a cartel is hindering, ''

these sinister & shadowy characters are too powerful for the government & its agencies but they can never be too powerful against the people of Naija

only an organised people can dominate real/perceived compeition.

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

This is ridiculous ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Nigeria is a fatal experiment. A gross mistake.

anything can happen in 9ja

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 idiotic policies must be reversed.

Tudór:

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 fren shut up and stop living in dream. Live in reality, nigeria is long dead and waiting for the final nail on it's coffin and you are here preaching and asking "When are we gonna put all these tribalism and ethnicity aside" You must understand that those illiterate northerners does not understand what it is to be ONE PEOPLE, ONE COUNTRY, so how long are you going to wait for them while preaching your ONE nigeria? They keep on showing you signs like the one above that they are not interested in what is called ONE NIGERIA where competence and merit rules, yet your type still goes on in shouting ONE NIGERIA.
The sooner heads like you understand that the best option is for all southerners to put hands on desk and work for the division of that useless country, the better for you. Stay there and be shouting YOU ARE ONE NIGERIA and remain a fool forever for those illiterate northerners that doesn't have any atom of remorse.

rebranding at work

nigeria is here to stay

however the cattle men will realise that the land the are standin has long shifted ages ago

for now let them enjoy plenty gworo chewin

rasputinn:

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

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 Yoruba 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.

I don't believe in quota system. If the best people for a job are from one state let them be appointed. It is the presidents prerogative. The only time we exercise our rights is during election. When we reward the president or penalise him based on the performance of his appointed officials.
I don't understand the way Nigerians think. What has an office holder from your tribe, state or region got to do with your well being. There is this covet wish that you will be more favoured above others.
I think Nigerians are summarily selfish, and self centred, even at their own expense. They will accept anything just to make them seem superior to their fellow country man.
tribalism, nepotism, regionalism, ethnicity etc are just a manifestation of this.
We need to stop pointing fingers at politicians at the top.
They are  just a typical Nigerians like most of us .

becoomrich:



And we Yorubas say NO to Ethnocracy form of goverment. Ethnocracy is not democracy. It is two different thing. We say remove the Yorubas, edo, delta and bayelsa into Benin republic and make the north have 70% of the oil and 90% of the land.


Egbe Omo Oduduwa

Egbeomooduduwa@live.com

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?

Duh!! you guys acting brand new like you dont know why they want customs, apart from what someone pointed out as being one of the major source of revenue for the Federal Government, think about their plans to Islamicize the nation,
Yes by controlling the border especially the border with Niger and Chad they can let their fellow brethen roam the country freely and terrorize non-muslims in the north. Remember the JOS crisis witnesses were saying the attackers couldn't even speak english they were speaking french,

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?

I don hear new one "ethnocracy"