The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Tuesday mocked the outgone Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, by cutting a symbolic 60th birthday cake in Abuja.
Addressing journalists at a press conference, Spokesman of CUPP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere said cutting of the cake marked the ‘inglorious years’ of the outgone police boss.
According to him, a portion of the cake would be sent to Idris and President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also announced the suspension of an earlier nationwide protest demanding the immediate retirement of Idris from the Police Force.
Prior to the cutting of the cake, the CUPP Spokesperson set agenda for the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed.
Top among the agenda are the immediate release of all political detainees, including the embattled senator, Dino Melaye and rights activist, Deji Adeyanju.
The Spokesperson also urged the new police boss to stop the indiscriminate posting of police commissioners ahead of the 2019 elections, even as he called on Mohammed to reverse the deployment of Kayode Egbetokun, former Chief Security Officer to ex-Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, who was recently posted to the state.
Ugochinyere also called on Mohammed not to follow the footsteps of his predecessor by desisting from indiscriminate arrest of opposition figures as well as curb the violence allegedly being unleased by APC members on the family of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in his homestate of Kwara.
Announcing a seven-day ceasefire to the new IG, he said: “We are minded to call on the new IG to spare no stone in restoring the image of the Nigerian Police which is currently ranked as the worst in the world no thanks to the activities of Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
“Furthermore, we call on the new Inspector General of Police to commence immediate actions to review the cases of all political prisoners held in the various Police cells across the nation with a view to releasing them forthwith including Mr. Deji Adeyanju who was acquitted by a Court of law and is now in prison because someone does not like his political views, Senator Dino Melaye who allegations against him in the media by the Police are different from the charges filed in Court against him and several other political detainees.
“The new Insepector General must as a matter of urgency, distance the institution of the police from the murky waters of partisan politics and shield his office and officers from being annexed by the outgoing APC.
“Our demand for neutrality of the Police is in the interest of the nation. The Police owes every citizen protection and must not be seen as supporting and aiding any political party.
“The reports such as have been widely reported in the media where Police aided thugs of the ruling party on a destruction spree in Kwara State must not be heard again. We also condemn the decision of President Buhari to visit Kwara for political campaigns without ever condemning the political violence by his Kwara supporters or expressing his sympathy with the Saraki dynasty.
“The notorious reports of Police turning a blind eye when members of the APC commit crimes while at the same time descending heavily on opposition elements just for their political views should be thing of the past just like Mr. Idris. Thugs must not be allowed to have any role in our political space. The New Police IG must arrest all the hired thugs who burnt down the properties of the Saraki Family and their kinsmen including the prosecution of the APC Governorship candidate who funded the destructive action with support of top National APC leaders .They must be arrested whenever and wherever they’re seen.
“Ruling Party thugs stole the mace of the Senate while in session and no police action was taken, APC thugs disrupted Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Kogi House of Assembly, Lagos APC governorship rally and and very many other rallies of the ruling party with little or no arrests thereby presenting the police as being helpless towards the ruling party thugs. This certainly does not engender confidence in citizens that these rampaging thugs will not be allowed by the Police to unleash unmitigated violence on citizens during the election.
“While we wish the new IGP well in his new responsibility, we also remind him that Nigerians and indeed the world will be watching him”.
