Nigerians appear to be unanimous in their expectations from the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed, as they look to seeing a break from the immediate past where the police as an institution, under retired IGP Ibrahim Idris, turned itself into an enemy of the people.
Nigerians who spoke with BusinessDay on Wednesday, a day after President Muhammadu decorated and swore in Mohammed, said the operation of the police under Idris was characterised by abuse of citizens’ rights, disruption of peaceful protests and tear-gassing of the protesters.
Abiodun Aremu, chairman, Joint Action Front (JAF), a civil rights group, in an interview with BusinessDay, said the new IGP must choose a different path and work with the knowledge that the police as an institution was not created basically to always take side with the government but to protect and secure Nigerians.
“If I carry a placard and begin to sing the praises of Mr. President, the police would accord me protection and even roll out red carpet. But if I carry a placard to say the anti-corruption isn’t working, the police would disrupt, tear-gas, and say it can’t go on.” He said the new IGP must learn from the mistakes of predecessor and ensure that the rights of every Nigerian citizen are protected. “He must realise that in a democracy, protest can always break out and that the citizens have the right to a peaceful protest.
Shehu Sani, a senator representing Kaduna Central District, in his twitter handle, also expressed his expectations from the Mohammed.
Sani said: “My advice to the new IGP is to respect fundamental rights and rule of law, take orders from the constitution, be not partisan, go after bandits, armed herdsmen, militia, cultists, kidnappers and not critics.”
The senator also urged the IGP to reduce the number of his men (policemen) protecting the elites by reploying them to protect the masses. “Upgrade your colleges, obey lawful summons and spread not butter with a machete.”
Lending his voice, Chris Onyeka, Deputy General Secretary of the United Labour Congress (ULC), said Mohmmed’s appointment has doused tension that was building up from the rumour that President Buhari was planning to extend Idris’ tenure.
He said: The former IGP’s reign was characterised by impunity, political partisanship, nepotism and highhandedness in carrying out his official duties.
As Nigerians, we have huge expectations from the new IGP. We expect him to wean the police away from partisan politics if he can.
He should stop the continued privatisation of the services of the Nigeria Police. It is disgusting seeing rich men and politicians get provided with policemen for a fee while our streets and nation run short of policemen to provide security. The continued extortion and harassment of members of the public by the police must reduce drastically. We also expect him to intervene in SARS who are still involved in unwholesome acts despite the so-called reforms.
Much more as the general elections draw closer, we expect him to police closely his men nationwide to ensure that they do not lend themselves to politicians as tools for election rigging. It remains his constitutional duty to ensure that elections are secure and safe for all Nigerians,” said Onyeka.
JOSHUA BASSEY
