Mass retirement of Police chiefs

The compulsory retirement of 21 assistant inspectors general (AIG) of police who were senior to the new acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, before his appointment by the Police Service Commission (PSC) is eliciting strong reactions.
Last week, the PSC announced the retrenchment of tested and accomplished senior police officers such as Bala Hassan; Yahaya Ardo; Irmiya Yarima; Danladi Mshebwala; Tambari Mohammed ; Bala Magaji Nasarawa; MUsa Abdulsalam; Adisa Bolanta and Mohammed Gana.
Also affected were Umaru Manko; Lawal Tanko; Olufemi Adenike; Johnson Ogunsakin; Adenrele Shinaba; James Caulcrick; Olufemi Ogunbayode; Edgar Nanakumo; Kalafite Adeyemi; Patrick Dokumor ; Joseph Mbu and Sabo Ringim.
We believe that this is unnecessary in a country facing dire security challenges.
To throw away more than two dozen well-trained senior police officers so that a dark horse, a relatively junior officer, would be made the 19th IGP is another of the many ill-advised policies that have become the signature tune of the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC).
There is no overarching reason for Idris’ appointment over and above his more accomplished colleagues except as compensation for the role he played as Kano State commissioner of police during the 2015 presidential election when the state returned unprecedented two million votes to give Buhari victory.
Must personal interest always trump national interest particular when the issue has to do with national security?
Whose decision was this? Section 216 (2) of the Constitution says, “Before making any appointment to the office of the inspector general of police or removing him from office, the president shall consult the Nigeria Police Council.”
Was there such a consultation? Does the Council exist right now? Feelers from the seat of power also indicate that though the Mike Okiro-led PSC claimed responsibility for the mass purge in the police; they were only presented with a fait accompli and had no hand in the decision.
So, who took this decision and for what reasons?
The bulk, as usual, stops at the president’s table and, therefore, the decision must be his alone.
Most of these forcefully retired officers were trained both at home and abroad with tax payers’ money and still have many years to serve their fatherland.
Forcing them to retire prematurely just because the president prefers a particular officer as his police chief is a huge disservice not only to the force itself but to the country.
We cannot afford to continue the practice of retiring a huge number of active officers of the rank of AIG and Deputy General of Police (DIG after the country has spent resources training and maintaining them at the president’s whims because the professional skills and knowledge they acquired over the years are wasted.
This ugly practice also breeds disenchantment and disloyalty in the police and kills morale and professionalism. It promotes eye service and exposes the police to political manipulation.
The appointment of the IGP should not be left to only the president and his political party to play politics with.
The appointment procedure must be made competitive and transparent so that the most qualified and most competent candidate can emerge. What has happened negates the principle of seniority.
Unless on the grounds of gross misconduct or proven incompetence, the most senior officer should step into the shoes of an outgoing IGP.
If he is not considered fit, then he can be eased out and the next most ranking officer steps in. But to ease out 21 most senior officers so that their junior can take over is an unfortunate development.
It creates a sense of insecurity in the police and promotes corruption.
The position of IGP is a political appointment but even at that merit should be the criterion for such appointment. Aside the police and the country, the greatest loser in this game of musical chairs is Idris, an otherwise junior AIG whose more experienced colleagues have been sacked to accommodate his ambition.
Ultimately, these are officers whose wealth of experience he needs to succeed.