Emerging report revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that he would soon appoint a new Inspector-General of Police, IGP after pressure by the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the current IGP, Ibrahim Idris’ tenure must not be extended.
It was gathered from sources, that President Buhari will soon announce the new IGP, before the 2019 general elections, in order to avoid overheating the polity.
Recall, Buhari had recently assured that he would act on the lingering controversy surrounding the retirement of IGP, Ibrahim Idris. Speaking exclusively to Arise TV, Buhari took sole responsibility for not changing his Military and Security Chiefs, since 2015.
According to public service laws, the occupant of the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, is to retire, after spending the mandatory 35 years in service, or attaining 60 years of age. Idris is expected to retire from service, after reaching the mandatory 35 years in service, this month.
On Monday, the Coalition of United Political Parties, threatened a mass protest, on January 15, if Idris is not retired by then and in reaction to this and other calls for action, Buhari that said he is not “afraid” of the Police Boss, and that he would definitely take action.
“I saw on the television, somebody has given me last warning to… I have accepted responsibility, I do not think I am afraid of him, and I do not think I have organised roadblocks and got collections from it, to say that I will lose some part of my revenue from him”, he said jokingly. I will take action”, he added.
Responding to questions on why he has not changed the Service Chiefs, Buhari revealed that he is waiting for the ‘appropriate time’, as making changes during emergency situations, would be counter-productive.
“I am measuring the options critically. When you have a case of emergency, if you do not wait for an appropriate time to do it, then you create competition within the Service. There are so many ambitious people waiting, only one man can be Chief of Army Staff in the Army, only one man can be the Inspector-General of Police. Do not forget that it was this administration that appointed all the three. I did not know them on personal basis. I followed records, and thought I picked the best then. Of course, their performance may be disappointing, but I accept responsibility for not changing them. My reason is based on my own experience.”
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