•MD Abubakar to remain in office till July 31
President Goodluck Jonathan is making consultations on who will take over from Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), when he retires on July 31.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
TheNiche learnt that Jonathan is quietly consulting serving and retired police chiefs, members of the Police Service Commission (PSC), private security experts, members of civil society, and politicians knowledgeable in policing and security matters, among others.
He is doing it to familiarise himself with the character of the person who will supervise over 300,000 police officers.
Jonathan followed the same path before he appointed Abubakar to replace Hafiz Ringim in 2012.
For instance, he contacted former IGs, Mike Okiro and Parry Osayande, as well as others, including traditional rulers such as the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, and the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, a retired police officer – all of whom gave Abubakar a pass mark as IG.
Given the current national insecurity, TheNiche learnt, Jonathan is “being pains-taking choosing who emerges as Abubakar’s replacement and is talking with those who will assist him to make the best choice for the country.”
Though pressure is being mounted on Jonathan from different ethnic groups who desire to have their kinsman appointed IG, the source maintained that “Jonathan is wiser now and will weigh all the options.”
Contrary to reports that Abubakar has proceeded on terminal leave, TheNiche has it on authority that he is still in the office and will work till July 31.
A senior police officer, who did not want his name in print, confirmed that a signal was received from the police high command that Abubakar and other police officers “will not go on the much publicised terminal leave, but will continue to work till the last day they will be due for retirement.”
He said the directive has now become a rule in the police.
The only reason any of them could be sent on terminal leave is if there is an issue involving any of them, and “in the case of the IGP, the only condition he could be told to proceed on terminal leave is if the president is dissatisfied with his services, and that directive can only come from the president.”
Another source close to the Police Service Commission (PSC) confirmed that Abubakar “is still in the office working, the PSC cannot be involved in his retirement or appointment which is the discretion of the president.
“The IG reports to the president. If Abubakar is going to retire he has not been asked to hand over to anybody by the president. And the president can tell him to stay back anyway.”
The source added that the president can seek the opinion of individual members of the PSC (apart from the chairman who is a member of the Police Council chaired by the president himself) before he appoints a new IG, since PSC members know the character and capability of officers from the rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP).
However, the source clarified that “contributions made directly or not by the PSC members may or not affect the final decision of the president when appointing a new IGP.”
It was learnt that a secret investigation of officers from the rank of assistant inspector general of police (AIG) is going on, an indication that the chances of Jonathan asking Abubakar to remain a day longer in office are slim.
Besides, some discuss in hush tones that Abubakar allegedly pursued an anti-South agenda in the police by deploying Southern officers to the North to confront Boko Haram.
However, there are also those who said Abubakar’s regime witnessed a lot of promotions for police personnel in a way they have not experienced before.
It was learnt that one of the reasons Jonathan is painstaking in the appointment of a new IG is to combat Boko Haram insurgency and handle the election next year.
Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Reuben Abati, declined comment.
Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Frank Mba, said the police high command has not received any official communication informing Abubakar of his “inevitable glorious” retirement.
“Therefore,” Mba stressed, Abubakar, “who was fully at his desk today (May 15), has continued to perform his official duties as the 16th indigenous IGP.”
A source in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, denied that a letter was sent from the office to Abubakar to proceed on terminal leave.
Anyim attends meetings of the Police Council and did not write a letter to Abubakar as he did not receive such a directive from Aso Rock, the source added.