Reno Omokri: Stop linking Frank Mba to Egbetokun’s tenure controversy
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former presidential media aide, Reno Omokri, has cautioned against associating Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Frank Mba with the ongoing debate over the tenure of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
In a post on X, Omokri stated on Tuesday that after conducting his own inquiries, he found that Mba is content with his current position and remains loyal to Egbetokun.
The controversy arose over whether Egbetokun should retire upon turning 60 in September 2024. However, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, clarified that Egbetokun’s four-year tenure, which began on October 31, 2023, remains valid.
Amid the discussions, some social media users accused Mba, who hails from the South-East, of attempting to undermine Egbetokun’s tenure to position himself as a successor. Others speculated that Egbetokun’s continued stay was designed to prevent an Igbo officer from becoming IGP.
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Omokri dismissed these claims, warning that they misrepresent Mba and could harm his career.
“Honestly, typical of contemporary Nigerian expectations, I had thought that perhaps these social media narratives may have been influenced by the man being projected to benefit from it by a section of netizens,” Omokri said.
“However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, on the contrary, DIG Frank is very close to IGP Egbetokun and exhibits a rare and superlative sense of loyalty that can only be described as fierce and unflinching.
“I also found this to be such an open secret within police circles so much so that even close aides and friends of the IGP lay credence to the fact that Frank is probably the highest supporter of his boss, Egbetokun, amongst serving police officers.”
He emphasised that the appointment of an IGP is the president’s decision and is not influenced by social media debates or ethnic sentiments.
Omokri urged those who support Mba to stop promoting misleading narratives, noting that the DIG is focused on his responsibilities and does not need unnecessary controversy.
