IGP AND THE RIVERS RERUN ELECTION
As a political observer, I am amused by the extreme partisanship of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Though he is still wearing his uniform, all his actions are tailored towards the promotion of the ‘Chanji Dole’ politics. Since his appointment, he has dragged the police several steps backwards because of his commitment to the political ideals of those who appointed him. He has forgotten the responsibilities that go with the office of the Inspector General of Police.
Mr Idris has failed to realise that his office is different from that of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose interest is to win at all costs, irrespective of the voting pattern of the electorate.
It is necessary at this point to highlight the statement credited to the APC National Chairman, Mr John Odigie-Oyegun after defeated Rivers APC Governorship candidate cried to him after losing at the Supreme Court. Hear Odigie-Oyegun: “We have lost very important oil-rich states to the PDP. No matter how crude oil prices have fallen, it is still the most important revenue earner for the country.”
In case Mr Idris is not aware, as a police chief, he is expected to be neutral. He has no business trying to assist the APC gain political advantage, because they appointed him into office. It is rather unfortunate that Mr Idris has allowed himself to be used by the APC leadership to create unnecessary political tension in Rivers State. This he has done in his use of the police to manipulate the security infrastructure in the state.
His directive to the Rivers State Police Commissioner to reduce the policemen attached to Government House, Port Harcourt from 250 to less than 50 was the beginning of his recent assault on the security architecture of Rivers State. After that, the IGP ensured that majority of the Divisional Police Officers and Divisional Crime Officers from areas where key rerun elections would hold where transferred out of the state. Policemen compromised by the APC and used by the defeated party during the tribunal hearing were posted back.
Two senior police officers are now aiding and abetting crime in Rivers State. They are taking illegal actions that have further diminished the already ailing reputation of the police. One of them led APC thugs and several armed policemen to invade Government House, Port Harcourt. During this failed invasion, he personally assaulted the Chief Security Officer of Governor Wike. The other on the order of the Inspector General of Police has assigned 500 SARS personnel to APC candidates and chieftains, without assigning any to PDP candidates. When Governor Wike raised alarm on this anomaly, it was the Rivers APC that issued a statement defending the Inspector General of Police.
When Governor Wike upon receipt of credible intelligence stated that there were plans to assassinate him, the police made no attempt to reassure him of his safety. Instead, IGP Idris broke all known principles of security administration. He withdrew the Chief Security Officer of Governor Wike. He also withdrew majority of the police personnel on the governor’s security convoy.
In his attempt to please those who appointed him, Idris forgot the established security protocol that you don’t withdraw the Chief Security Officer of a governor without informing him. The comedy of errors associated with the IGP calls to question his commitment to the security of lives across the nation. One wonders why the IGP is not disturbed that security is degenerating nationwide.
Since becoming the IGP, he has been at home with the conduct of questionable elections by an equally suspicious INEC. In Edo, he was changing Commissioner of Police repeatedly till he got the ‘right’ man for the ‘job’. We all know how protests trailed the aftermath of the Edo ‘job’. Under Idris, police has lost its neutrality.
It is important that I bring to the fore, Amaechi’s statement on behalf of the police concerning the rerun elections. He told reporters that the Presidency (APC) has mobilised security for the rerun elections and that the security agents will arrest anyone considered to be a trouble maker. I will take the liberty of informing Ibrahim Idris that Rivers State is not Kano State where he was Commissioner of Police during the 2015 election. As we await the outcome of that investigation, I plead with him to reduce the level of partisanship.