Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Speculations have arisen amongst many, regarding the lack of completion of the three months tenure of the past inspector-general of police (IGP), and Muhammad Dingyadi, the Minister of Police Affairs, has given reasons to explain the decision.
According to him, that it was the sole prerogative of the federation’s President, Muhammadu Buhari to make the call and appointment. He stated that the president had approved the nomination of Alkali Usman Baba as the nation’s new IGP.
Media correspondents had earlier drawn the attention of the general public to the fact that Baba took over Adamu who was initially meant to stay further on for a duration of three-month as approved by the President on February 4. However, Adamu had only spent two months and three days out of the three months before he was relieved of the post
Responding to the journalists, he stated that: “Mr. President is aware of this and you cannot take away that responsibility from him; he’s the one who is in charge of appointing or extending tenures.
“He has now decided to appoint a new person. So please allow him that responsibility and we cannot do anything about it.”
Dingyadi further remarked that the President had sent a note of appreciation to the former IGP “for his efforts, professionalism, and dedication to duty during the period of his tenure”.
Also speaking on the choice of the newly appointed IGP, the Minister insisted that the selection was done after a “thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs, who are eligible for appointment as IGP”.
The minister said Baba’s appointment is in line with the President’s goal “to regain the security architecture in the country, to ensure that the security challenges bedevilling the nation are brought to an end”.
Moreover, he affirmed that the President has charged Baba to “rise to the challenge to ensure policing reform policy of this administration are fully prioritized and implemented”.
Before his nomination, Baba was the deputy inspector-general of the police force criminal investigation department, police headquarters.
Expectations are already very high in the policy regarding what plans and strategy Baba has up his sleeves, to tackle the current challenge of insecurity that has ravaged the country for quite some time.
