General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has been urged to appoint a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) in line with the Police Act 2020.
Charging President Buhari to complete the circle of overhauling the security architecture of the country, following the Tuesday’s announcement of new Service Chiefs, an Abuja based legal practitioner, Barrister Silas Joseph Onu, noted that the tenure of the current IGP, Abubakar Adamu expires on February 1, 2021.
Barrister Onu specifically appealed to President Buhari to rise above expectation and sustain the reform that he has begun by keeping faith with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020, declaring that Nigeria needs a fresh hope, especially with the myriads of insecurity.
The legal practitioner pointed out that the game of lobbying for a job that will require the protection of lives and properties of over 200 million Nigerians is not one to be politicized or lobbied for.
Such an appointment, he advised, must be one that is totally guided by law and in accordance with the extant law.
He said: “It is now very clear that the present Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is set to bow out of the Force on 1st February, 2021 in line with the provision of Section 18 (8) of the Police Act, 2020.
“So, when promoters begin to spin qualification by ascribing the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police to a person simply because he is holding an office meant for an Assistant Inspector-General, in an acting capacity, it becomes obvious that there is a sinister motive, especially, when there are other qualified senior officers.”
Barrister Onu advised that the police must be totally devoid of politics in its promotion and appointments.
The legal practitioners said: “The game of lobbying for a job that will require the protection of lives and properties of over 200 million Nigerians is not one to be politicized or lobbied for.
“Such an appointment must be one that is totally guided by law and in accordance with the extant law.
“The nation had hope with the announcement of new service chiefs by the President, the circle will be completed with a new IGP appointed in accordance with the Police Act, 2020.
“I must, once again, congratulate the outgoing IGP Abubakar Adamu for writing his name in gold as far as reforming the Nigeria Police Force is concern. I also wish the entire retiring senior officers well and a fulfilling retirement.
