Scapegoating IGP Idris to hit PMB

If a dispassionate analysis is carried out about the performances of the various Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) that have historically emerged in Nigeria, there cannot be any doubt that the current IGP, Ibrahim K. Idris, has done what none of his predecessors could do, and he did it in the shortest possible time.

Within one year, the policecommunity relations that has always been elusive, has been restored, while the corrupt system within which the police has been enmeshed is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Notwithstanding the meager number of policemen manning the huge population of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under the current dispensation has unprecedentedly checkmated the aggressive criminal activities of miscreants in the country, particularly the success recorded in the fight against the problem of kidnapping.

In the last two years also, there has been an unexpected rate of crime increment in the country, and within this period, the NPF has left no one in doubt about their capability to stem the tide. Surprisingly, this task has been accomplished with lean resources available to the police, as all the attempts made so far to increase funding for the Force have been unsuccessful.

Paradoxically, while the police are doing everything possible to make an ordinary Nigerian sleep with his two eyes closed, by enhancing the nation’s security to appreciable level, some members of the larger community are bent on derailing the effort and destroying the image of the Force.

If what we read in the media, especially the social media can be a reference point, one would have no doubt concluded that the present police high command remains the most criticized, notwithstanding the transformation it has engendered in the system within two years. The most disturbing part of the entire scenario is that those in the forefront of blackmailing the police are those who have benefited from the improved security system and whose positions in the socio-political cadre qualified them to know better about the efforts of the police than any other person.

For example, a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who happens to be a former police officer and the son of a late police officer, mischievously accused the police hierarchy of collecting billions of naira from corporate organizations in the country to provide security cover for them. As ridiculous as such an allegation was, some people were ready to believe it hook line and sinker. This is because it has become the business of some Nigerians to support anything against the police, notwithstanding its ridiculous nature. It is painful to know that most of these allegations against the police remained unproved, yet there are people who are willing to believe it.

Here lies the fundamental question of why the blackmailing arsenals are overtly directed at those considered to be highly loyal to Buhari’s administration. Right now, the Chairman of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu is also perpetually under huge attacks by the same elements of blackmail, who are using every available channel to paint the young man black. The dust was compelled to die, after the duo of Abba Kyari and Lawal Daura closed their eyes to similar smear campaigns, from the same people. This is after the abortive attempts to rubbish the robust and rapidly rising reputation of Gen. Buratai. While I don’t want to be seen as being sentimentally sectional, but the salvo seems selectively so directed, at those sharing the same geographical location with the president. Is it to say the sinners are only present on the same side of the president’s block.

A critical assessment of the antics of these blackmailers has shown that these loyal lieutenants of Mr President may, in the long run, not be the main target. All of the character assassinations, lies, abuses and frustrations directed at IGP Idris and other loyal appointees of the president are orchestrated to get rid of them as a stepping stone to launch a major war against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Some of the reformations that his administration has brought forth have injured some vested interests, and the hitherto untouchables, who have been under the impression that no one can dare them are throwing back hard punches through their surrogates. These people are aware of the fact that the best way to deal with an administration is to cripple the loyal appointees. That is why most of those who share the aspirations of President Muhammadu Buhari and are ready to sacrifice anything for the success of his administration are being given bad names to create the erroneous impression that they do not deserve to be there. In other words, it is a crafty way of diminishing the defense line, in order to expose the main target.

This is why President Buhari has to learn to read between the lines to discover the hidden intentions of these blackmailers. All the negative things said or written against the IGP are designed to make the president see him as unworthy of his position, and by the time the president lost some of his ardent believers and hard-working appointees, the focus of his administration would be lost to the barrage of criticism that would follow the incompetence of the docile ones who will remain with him. Is it not convenient to realise that no one is blackmailing those appointees who have remained largely inactive in this administration, while all arrows are aimed at those who have supported the president in hitting the ground running since the beginning of the administration.

It is imperative at this juncture to advise Mr. President to be wary of all propagandistic and blackmailing materials being rolled out on a daily basis against the most active servants of his administration. They are designed to create a space from where they could get to him.

But one interesting thing about all these is that the IGP himself has repeatedly said that he has a single agenda to move the NPF to the Promised Land, and by that help Buhari’s administration succeed in ensuring an ideal national security. As he often argues, name-calling, blackmail, character assassination and baseless allegations cannot stop him from moving towards the destination he promised Nigerians right from day one. For him, the objective of making the NPF one of the best in the world remains a huge source of inspiration and a driving energy no one can stop. As a worthy venture, the IGP is not oblivious of the fact that the road to any credible destination is sometimes riddled with obstacles.

Ibrahim wrote this piece from Abuja.