IGP Egbetokun’s Tom and Jerry series with Sowore a study in misplaced priorities, says ex-presidential candidate Adebayo
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has slammed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the use of the police against Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Africa Action Alliance (AAC), was today invited by the police for interrogation over alleged forgery and criminal defamation. The police, however, refused to disclose the details of the alleged offence.
The latest invitation by police makes it the second in less than five months that Sowore has received, all bothering around criticisms of the police force and the extension of tenure for Egbetokun by President Bola Tinubu.
Egbetokun was due for retirement last year, but Tinubu gave him a tenure extension on grounds of a four year tenure which he was yet to complete. Sowore argued the move was illegal.
Adebayo, while reacting to the continued hounding of Sowore by the police, warned that law enforcement powers should not be used by the police to deter its critics and watchdogs.
The full statement by Adebayo reads: “The Tom and Jerry series between @PoliceNG and @YeleSowore doesn’t portray a law enforcement agency that has learnt much regarding institutional integrity and due process.
“@IGPEgbetokun needs to zone out of any seeming ego or malice when it comes to critics, especially an equal opportunity challenger of the status quo like @YeleSowore. Police powers to arrest and/or detain are quasi-judicial and must be exercised only for the sole purpose of crime prevention, criminal justice administration, law and order.
“The police is a constitutional body and civil organization that is not above criticisms. Law enforcement powers should not be used by the police to deter its critics and watchdogs. Critics don’t have to be right to be privileged against unlawful arrest or detention.
” Nigeria is short of police personnel to confront the multifaceted criminality ongoing in our communities. How the Police have enough men, materials and mindfulness to spare to spar with @YeleSowore is another study in misplaced priorities at the highest levels.
” It is a notorious fact that @YeleSowore is rightfully invested in the @PoliceNG by way of challenging policemen one day and fighting on their behalf the next day. That I can understand. But this doesn’t mean that the @PoliceNG should reciprocate by being equally invested in @YeleSowore. This duel cannot be won by the @IGPEgbetokun and no need to drag the @PoliceNG into the tunnels in search of an ever elusive comeuppance. Enough!”
