By Adewole Kehinde,
“Perhaps the surest test of an individual’s integrity is his refusal to do or say anything that would damage his self-respect” – Thomas S. Monson
I just read an article from one Alhaji Balogun, former SA. To Alhaji Smith, titled “PSC AND the POLICE HIERARCHY IMPASSE.”.
Alhaji Balogun wrote a good piece, no doubt, but failed to address the extortion and corruption aspects of the recruitment exercise.
Like I have said in my previous opinion on this matter, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is not usurping the powers of the PSC but rather calling for transparency and integrity in the recruitment exercise, as it was glaring that money exchanged hands in the recruitment exercise.
From all those speaking from the side of the PSC Joint Union, none have really talked about the corruption and extortion of the recruitment exercise.
Most of them will criticize the Nigeria police soon for having unqualified police personnel across the country. Still, they will forget how they stood with the corrupt process that brought them into the police force in the name of recruitment.
I wish to remind Alhaji Balogun that the consequences of recruiting unqualified candidates will have several consequences for the Nigeria Police, as recruiting unqualified candidates who lack the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their job effectively will lead to lower productivity levels within the Nigeria Police.
With DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd.) as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission. IGP Kayode Egbetokun will always manage to accommodate each other’s positions in the interest of the security of the country.
I disagree with Alhaji Balogun that “people rationalising the IGP’s position are, with respect, nothing but ANARCHISTS.”.
Supporting openness and transparency is never an anarchy. The unqualified candidates recruited are the anarchists.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun is not upturning an Extant law through open, treasonable, puerile, holier-than-thou, albeit illegal, means; rather, the PSC Joint Union members, which have collected thousands of Naira from unqualified candidates to join the esteemed Nigeria Police Force, are the ones upturning an Extant law.
We should learn to obey laws by making the recruitment exercise open with integrity or be ready for real anarchists.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja and can be reached via 08166240846, email: kennyadewole@gmail.com
