By Chukwuemeka Fidelis
I sometimes wondered why many Nigerians dislike honest people and align with people with dubious characters.
I woke up this morning to a news article titled “CSO Coalition Dismisses Corruption Allegations Against IGP Egbetokun.”
I laughed so hard and am still angry that Ezenwa Nwagwu, the so-called convener and the executive director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), could accept the dirty job of coming to the public with unconfirmed, deceptive, and speculative information.
The four-year tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, coupled with the sanitization of the police force by exiting those who have stayed beyond 35 years in service or are above 60 years of age, triggered so many allegations that are irrational and unjustified.
The constitution, as well as the Police Act, is very clear on the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, especially Section 6(7) and Section 18(8a) of the Police Act.
This amendment ensures that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) serves a full four-year term, regardless of the public service rules, which typically require retirement at 60 or after 35 years of service. This allows the IGP to complete the term stipulated in their appointment letter.
The amendment came like a heavy thunder to those already eyeing the office of the Inspector-General of Police. I am sure that IGP Egbetokun never expected the amendment as well.
Their next agenda was the recruitment of a failed politician and self-acclaimed activist, Omoyele Sowore, to start another campaign of #EgbetokunMustGo on social media.
Meanwhile, they resort to exposing police internal memos and wireless messages to Sahara Reporters as another means to bring down a man with a strong reputation for expertise, commitment to national security, and good character, IGP Egbetokun.
I wept for Ezenwa Nwagwu because I didn’t believe an educated human being like him could believe that an IGP who is well-read could beed in a contract split to the tune of N6 billion!
Nwagwu and his backers failed to remember that the IGP is not the only individual who has discretion over budgetary allocations and expenditures within the Nigeria Police Force.
Transparency, professionalism and accountability have remained Egbetokun’s guiding principles of policing, and no amount of sponsored roundtables will stop the reform.
Chukwuemeka Fidelis writes from Ohafia, Abia state
