“We’re sad, really sad, and very sad about this systemic exclusion. It means in the next three or four appointments of the Inspector General of Police, the South East will have no chance. As it is now, we have no AIG, one DIG or any senior police officer.
That’s the way it is. Even those we have there now are old, due for retirement soon. It is the delayed promotion that is responsible for the whole thing. Our people are not promoted until they are old” With those words, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, the President of Aka Ikenga, a socio-cultural Igbo group in Lagos, summarised what has been angry murmurs of the South East in the past few months.
Since the current Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar assumed office in January 2012, there have been allegations of a deliberate scheming out of the zone in the affairs of the Nigerian Police Force. But in reality, the Police Service Commission, PSC, currently headed by former IGP Mike Okiro, is the body charged with the responsibility of promoting police officers.
Section 6, Part II, of the Police Service Commission Act, 2001, listed the functions of the PSC to include: (a) be responsible for the appointment and promotion of persons to offices (other than the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons (other than the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; (c) formulate policies and guidelines for the appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal of officers of the Nigeria Police Force; (d) identify factors inhibiting or undermining discipline in the Nigeria Police Force (e) Formulate and implement policies aimed at the efficiency and discipline to the Nigeria Police Force. But those blaming Abubakar point at the situation in the Police currently, where the South-East has no AIG of Police, one DIG(a political position) currently held by DIG Katchy Udorji and eight Commissioners of Police.
Agitators from the east believe that the zone has not been treated well in the promotions of officers from the zone against their counterparts from other parts of the country. Recently, Intersociety, a non-governmental organisation based in Onitsha, Anambra State, accused the PSC and IGP of deliberately scheming out the zone during promotions. In a letter sent to the Presidency, a copy of which was given to the New Telegraph, the group stressed that there was a conspiracy theory to wipe out officers of the South East extraction from the Nigerian Police hierarchy.
The letter insisted that there is a deliberate suppression of the south east in promotions and posting of key officers in the force. Although both the IGP and the PSC claim innocence over the development, New Telegraph gathered that the present situation was a function of manipulations of promotion exercises in the past. Past IGPs were said to have used their positions to promote people from their ethnic stock to the detriment of others.
Since Nigeria achieved Independence, Ogbonna Onovo is the only south-easterner to have become IGP. Many believe that he used his office as a “good boy”, without rocking any boat. But before him was IGP Mike Okiro. Although, regarded as a South-Southerner, he is also Igbo. Like Onovo, he is believed not to have done much. That is where the problem lies.
For instance, the Intersociety said that of the about 21 serving Assistant Inspectors Generals of Police (AIG) in NPF, including one specialist, none of them comes from the “Southeast geopolitical zone- an important Nigeria’s federating partner populated by one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria (Igbo). That has made this important federating partner endangered species in the country, including being prone to ethno-religious violence and next door enemy to other federating partners
The letter said, “Out of the 21 serving AIGs under reference, Northwest geopolitical zone is given 11, North-central five, South-south two, Southwest two, Northeast one and Southeast zero.” Buttressing their arguments, the group went on to list all the serving AIGs, their birth, enlistment, promotion and retirement dates. Those from the North West include: Suleiman A. Abba (Jigawa State), birth: 22/03/59, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 22/03/2019, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe (Zamfara State), birth: 19/02/57, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 19/02/2017. Saliu Argungu Hashimu (Kebbi State), birth: 10/07/57, enlistment: 11/12/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 10/07/2017.
Bala A. Hassan (Kano State), birth: 25/08/59, enlistment: 08/12/82, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 08/12/2017. Mohammed Jingiri Abubakar (Kano State), birth: 20/08/58, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 20/08/2018. Tambari Y. Mohammed (Sokoto State), birth: 01/10/56, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 01/10/2016. Sule Mamman (Katsina State), birth: 10/08/55, enlistment: 08/12/82, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 10/08/2015. Ballah Magaji Nasarawa (Kebbi State), birth: 26/07/61, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 31/12/2019. Sabo Ringim Ibrahim (Jigawa State), birth: 02/04/57, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 02/04/2017. Fana Abdullahi Salisu (Kebbi State), birth: 01/06/56, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 16/01/2014, retirement: 30/07/2014 and Musa Abdul Salam Daura (Katsina State), birth: 02/10/57, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 16/01/2014, retirement: 02/10/2017.
Those from the North-Central geopolitical zone are: Dan’Azumi Job Doma (Niger State), birth: 22/10/59, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 01/01/2019. Christopher Terhem Dega (Benue State), birth: 11/03/55, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 11/03/2015. Mark Adamu Idakwo (Kogi State), birth: 23/04/55, enlistment: 15/07/80, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 23/04/2015. Adisa Baba Bolanta (Kwara State), birth: 14/07/56, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 14/07/2016 and Mohammed J. Gana (Niger State), birth: 31/12/57, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 31/12/2017.
The two AIGs representing Southsouth zone are; Edgar Tam. Nanakumo (Bayelsa State), birth: 31/08/57, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 01/12/2016 and SolomonA. Arase (Edo State), birth: 21/06/56, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 20/06/2016. The two AIGs from Southwest zone are; Samuel Ilesanmi Aguda of Police Communications Air wing (specialist) from Ekiti State, birth: 28/09/54, enlistment: 15/03/82, promotion: 23/02/2012, retirement: 28/09/2014 and David O. Omojola (Ekiti State), birth: 10/01/55, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 10/01/2015.
The only AIG from North East zone is Kakwe Christopher Katso (Taraba State), birth: 29/09/59, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 16/01/2014, retirement: 29/09/2019. The group further said: “Another shocking discovery from the list of the 21 serving AIGs in the present NPF, apart from the inexcusable and despicable exclusion of the Southeast zone from the list, is that no woman is among the 21 AIGs.
This is despite the fact that women first enrolled into the NPF as far back as 1955. Further fact is that one of the oldest serving police officers/CPs in the present NPF is a woman. She is Mrs. Chintua Amajor-Onu (Abia State, Southeast). She was enlisted on 01/12/81 and has been a Commissioner of Police since 20/12/2010.” It added that the geopolitical lopsidedness is also manifested in the 88 serving CP in the NPF, including four specialists.
“In the list, the Southeast geopolitical zone has the least number of serving CPs with eight. Out of the said 88 CPs, the Northwest geopolitical zone, the zone of the present IGP, Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar; has 21CPs, followed by Northcentral with 18 CPs, Southwest 17 CPs, Northeast 13 CPs, South-south 11 CPs and Southeast with only 8 CPs.” “An aspect of the promotions that was worrisome, is that all the eight Southeast CPs have between this year (2014) and 2016 to retire either by clocking mandatory retirement age of 60 or mandatory retirement service age of 35 years.
According to the group, the trio of Godfrey E. Okeke(16/09/2014), Ikechukwu Aduba (09/07/2014) and Sylvester A. Umeh(10/11/2014) will retire this year (2014), while Felix Osita Uyanna (15/01/2015), Ikemefuna R. Okoye (15/06/2015) and Hilary Opara (17/07/2015) will go in 2015. The other two, Mrs. Chintua Amajor-Onu and Dr. Mrs. Grace Chita Okudo will retire in 2016.
“This is because of the deliberate long delays in promoting them alongside their counterparts from other parts of the country. They are victims of “promotion dormancy policy” in the NPF inflicted on the police officers of Southeast geopolitical zone,” the letter states. “The duo of CPs Hilary Opara and Felix Osita Uyanna had their last promotions as CPs on 18/12/2006 and 16/10/2007 respectively, a period of almost eight and seven years respectively.”
The group listed the eight serving Commissioners of Police from Southeast and their birth, enlistment, promotion and retirement dates as follows; Hilary Opara (Imo State), birth: 31/07/55, enlistment: 17/07/80, promotion: 18/12/2006, retirement: 17/07/2015. 2. Felix Osita Uyanna (Anambra State), birth: 01/05/55, enlistment: 18/07/80, promotion: 06/10/2007, retirement: 05/01/2015. 3. Godfrey E. Okeke( Anambra State), birth: 16/09/54, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 16/09/2014. 4. Chintua Amajor-Onu(Mrs.)( Abia State), birth: 12/07/56, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 12/07/2016. 5. Ikechukwu Aduba (Anambra State), birth: 09/07/54, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 09/07/2014. 6. Sylvester A. Umeh(Enugu State), birth: 10/11/54, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 10/11/2014. 7. Ikemefuna R. Okoye (Anambra State), birth: 15/06/55, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 15/06/2015. 8.
Mrs. Grace Chita Okudo (medical doctor), from Ebonyi State. She was born on 09/02/56, enlistment: 13/06/83, promotion: 20/12/2012 and retirement: 09/02/2016. The 21 CPs from Northwest zone and their birth, enlistment, promotion and retirement dates are as follows: Ibrahim M. Maishanu (Sokoto State), birth: 11/10/59, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 01/01/2009, retirement: 01/01/2019. Lawal Tanko (Kaduna State), birth: 14/03/57, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 14/03/2017. Buhari Tanko (Kano State), birth: 03/02/56, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 03/02/2016.
Mohammed A. Indabawa( Kano State), birth:12/04/56, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 20/12/2010,retirement: 30/07/2014. Mohammed Ibrahim Sumaila(Kano State), birth: 30/11/55, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 30/07/2014. Mohammed Ladan(Kano State), birth: 05/05/54, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 30/07/2014. Umar Gwadabe(Kano State), birth: 20/02/56, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 30/07/2014. Sanusi A. Rufai (Katsina State), birth: 27/08/57, enlistment: 01/08/80, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 01/08/2015. Musa Katsina Mohammed (Katsina State), birth: 1959, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 01/02/2019. Others are; Usman Twili Abubakar ( Kebbi State), birth: 15/10/59, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 15/10/2019. Ahmed Ibrahim (Kano State), birth: 06/05/57, enlistment: 01/08/80, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 01/08/2015.
Maigari Abbati Dikko (Katsina State), birth: 16/03/61, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 03/04/2013, retirement: 01/02/2021. Umaru U. Shehu (Kebbi State), birth: 18/06/58, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 03/04/2013, retirement: 18/06/2018. Saidu Madawaki ( Kebbi State), birth: 05/05/58, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 03/04/2013, retirement: 30/07/2014. Ibrahim Adamu (Zamfara State), birth: 20/11/58, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 20/11/2018. Abdul Dahiru Danwawu (Kano State), birth: 20/10/60, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 26/10/2020. Salisu Fagge Abdullahi (Kano State), birth: 01/07/58, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 01/02/2018. Lawal Shehu (Katsina State), birth: 24/12/60, enlistment: 15/03/88, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 24/12/2020.
Nyats Nyehsu Jatau (Kaduna State), birth: 15/12/56, enlistment: 01/08/80, promotion: 04/10/2013, retirement: 01/08/2015. Mohammed K. Mohammed (Katsina State), birth: 02/06/57, enlistment: 01/08/81, promotion: 21/01/2014, retirement: 01/08/2016. Hurdi D. Abubakar Mohammed (Jigawa State), birth: 05/02/62, enlistment: 15/03/88, promotion: 21/01/2014, retirement: 05/02/2022.
The 18 CPs from the North-central zone are; Umaru Abubakar Manko (Niger State), Joel Kayode Theophilus (Kogi State), Wilfred Eje Obute (Benue State), James Olorundare Aronito (Kogi State), Ibrahim K. Idris (Niger State), Shuaibu L. Gambo ( Niger State), John A.B. Opadokun (Kwara State), Waheed Olayinka Salau( Kwara State), Dorothy A. Gimba (Plateau State), Salihu Garba (Niger State), Kudu Nma (Niger State), Usman Yakubu (Niger State), Abdulmajid Ali (Niger State), Abubakar Adamu Mohammed (Nasarawa State), Abdul Salami Iyaji ( Kogi State), Yakubu O. Jibrin ( Nasarawa State), Abimbola Macaulay (Kwara State), Usman Isa Baba (Nasarawa State). B
ut while the protest and complains go on, New Telegraph investigation revealed that the problem of the South East in the Police is not a new development. Rather, it appears structured in the scheme of the Force. Since the independence of Nigeria in 1960, only Onovo has made it to the top from the South-East. Okiro, the other Igbo that has made it is regarded as a south- southerner. Sources said even if every IGP and Police Service Commission Chiefs were to favour their zones, the South East would still have had the short end of the stick.
That, according to a former member of the PSC was a result of the long policy of delayed promotions for South Easterners. According to him, “while northerners and others make their promotions in due time, the South easterners in the police have the misfortune of delayed promotion. Thus, when they even rise to a level of reason, they are old and cannot even be useful within the short period left for them.” But the spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force, Frank Mba, reacting to the alleged marginalization, said the Abubakar has nothing to do with promotions with respect to senior police officers.
He urged Nigerians to check the Constitution of the country, adding that the third schedule of the constitution, part M, Section 29, establishes the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Section 30 of the schedule states: “.the commission shall have power to (a) appoint persons to office,(other than the IGP), in the Nigerian Police Force and (B) dismissed and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office in sub paragraph…” He added: “The implication above showed that the power to appoint and promote and discipline officers is squarely vested on the PSC and not the IGP.
“The current arrangement in the police today, is that the IGP can only exercise delegated authority to promote persons between the ranks of constable to Inspector. All promotion from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIG) is squarely within the confines of the authority of the PSC. Therefore, the allegation against the IGP is most uncharitable.”
But the PSC spokesman, Ferdinand Ekpe, while confirming that he had heard about the allegations about the South East in Nigerian Police Force, not having equal promotion as their counterparts, said that a press conference was already scheduled for Thursday this week, to address the issue. A retired DIG, who was instrumental in the production of the blueprint that led to Niger Delta militants being offered amnesty and now runs a law chamber of his own, said he had no comment on the issue. A retired Commissioner of police, Abubakar Tsav, said that promotion in the Nigerian Police Force is based on merit and seniority.
“Promotion in the force is based on seniority and merit. There was a time in the police, when most of the senior police officers, especially in the rank of commissioners of police, were Igbo. “It means they were in a particular batch. After that batch, comes another batch. If some senior police officers in the next batch for promotion are not from the South East, those who are junior would not be promoted along with the senior just because they are Igbo. You can’t pick from lower rank, to promote with senior rank. It would create disaffection. “We should however not try to introduce tribalism and ethnicity into the force.
It will not be good for the force. There was time all CPs were Igbo and the next batch, there was no single Igbo. “But again, people who are due for retirement should be retired, so that others would be promoted to the next rank!” Another retired Commissioner of Police, Frank Odita, said that promotion in the police was not a right, but a privilege. “Promotion is by seniority, federal character and merit.
Merit had however been played down in the police, while federal character had been played high. If you have more tribe in the batch of promotion, they’ll suffer, because it’s likely only one person would be picked. But if you are, many are likely to be picked. Until that federal character is reversed, there’s nothing anybody can do about it.” Comfort Obi, a journalist and Commissioner in the PSC, holds the same view.
She said that it was Federal Character that destroyed the police until the PSC headed by Parry Osarinde came into being. She pointed out that it was that PSC that reduced Federal Character influence on the promotion of Police officers, save for the position of the DIGs, which are considered political. According to her, every zone must have a DIG. Obi did not find the criticisms funny. She said it was partly due to ignorance, even though she acknowledged that the activities of past IGPs before the PSC was set up contributed to the problem. For now though, it appears the anger will go on for a while.
That’s the way it is. Even those we have there now are old, due for retirement soon. It is the delayed promotion that is responsible for the whole thing. Our people are not promoted until they are old” With those words, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, the President of Aka Ikenga, a socio-cultural Igbo group in Lagos, summarised what has been angry murmurs of the South East in the past few months.
Since the current Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar assumed office in January 2012, there have been allegations of a deliberate scheming out of the zone in the affairs of the Nigerian Police Force. But in reality, the Police Service Commission, PSC, currently headed by former IGP Mike Okiro, is the body charged with the responsibility of promoting police officers.
Section 6, Part II, of the Police Service Commission Act, 2001, listed the functions of the PSC to include: (a) be responsible for the appointment and promotion of persons to offices (other than the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons (other than the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; (c) formulate policies and guidelines for the appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal of officers of the Nigeria Police Force; (d) identify factors inhibiting or undermining discipline in the Nigeria Police Force (e) Formulate and implement policies aimed at the efficiency and discipline to the Nigeria Police Force. But those blaming Abubakar point at the situation in the Police currently, where the South-East has no AIG of Police, one DIG(a political position) currently held by DIG Katchy Udorji and eight Commissioners of Police.
Agitators from the east believe that the zone has not been treated well in the promotions of officers from the zone against their counterparts from other parts of the country. Recently, Intersociety, a non-governmental organisation based in Onitsha, Anambra State, accused the PSC and IGP of deliberately scheming out the zone during promotions. In a letter sent to the Presidency, a copy of which was given to the New Telegraph, the group stressed that there was a conspiracy theory to wipe out officers of the South East extraction from the Nigerian Police hierarchy.
The letter insisted that there is a deliberate suppression of the south east in promotions and posting of key officers in the force. Although both the IGP and the PSC claim innocence over the development, New Telegraph gathered that the present situation was a function of manipulations of promotion exercises in the past. Past IGPs were said to have used their positions to promote people from their ethnic stock to the detriment of others.
Since Nigeria achieved Independence, Ogbonna Onovo is the only south-easterner to have become IGP. Many believe that he used his office as a “good boy”, without rocking any boat. But before him was IGP Mike Okiro. Although, regarded as a South-Southerner, he is also Igbo. Like Onovo, he is believed not to have done much. That is where the problem lies.
For instance, the Intersociety said that of the about 21 serving Assistant Inspectors Generals of Police (AIG) in NPF, including one specialist, none of them comes from the “Southeast geopolitical zone- an important Nigeria’s federating partner populated by one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria (Igbo). That has made this important federating partner endangered species in the country, including being prone to ethno-religious violence and next door enemy to other federating partners
The letter said, “Out of the 21 serving AIGs under reference, Northwest geopolitical zone is given 11, North-central five, South-south two, Southwest two, Northeast one and Southeast zero.” Buttressing their arguments, the group went on to list all the serving AIGs, their birth, enlistment, promotion and retirement dates. Those from the North West include: Suleiman A. Abba (Jigawa State), birth: 22/03/59, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 22/03/2019, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe (Zamfara State), birth: 19/02/57, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 19/02/2017. Saliu Argungu Hashimu (Kebbi State), birth: 10/07/57, enlistment: 11/12/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 10/07/2017.
Bala A. Hassan (Kano State), birth: 25/08/59, enlistment: 08/12/82, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 08/12/2017. Mohammed Jingiri Abubakar (Kano State), birth: 20/08/58, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 20/08/2018. Tambari Y. Mohammed (Sokoto State), birth: 01/10/56, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 01/10/2016. Sule Mamman (Katsina State), birth: 10/08/55, enlistment: 08/12/82, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 10/08/2015. Ballah Magaji Nasarawa (Kebbi State), birth: 26/07/61, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 31/12/2019. Sabo Ringim Ibrahim (Jigawa State), birth: 02/04/57, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 02/04/2017. Fana Abdullahi Salisu (Kebbi State), birth: 01/06/56, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 16/01/2014, retirement: 30/07/2014 and Musa Abdul Salam Daura (Katsina State), birth: 02/10/57, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 16/01/2014, retirement: 02/10/2017.
Those from the North-Central geopolitical zone are: Dan’Azumi Job Doma (Niger State), birth: 22/10/59, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 01/01/2019. Christopher Terhem Dega (Benue State), birth: 11/03/55, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 11/03/2015. Mark Adamu Idakwo (Kogi State), birth: 23/04/55, enlistment: 15/07/80, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 23/04/2015. Adisa Baba Bolanta (Kwara State), birth: 14/07/56, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 14/07/2016 and Mohammed J. Gana (Niger State), birth: 31/12/57, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 31/12/2017.
The two AIGs representing Southsouth zone are; Edgar Tam. Nanakumo (Bayelsa State), birth: 31/08/57, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 01/12/2016 and SolomonA. Arase (Edo State), birth: 21/06/56, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 20/06/2016. The two AIGs from Southwest zone are; Samuel Ilesanmi Aguda of Police Communications Air wing (specialist) from Ekiti State, birth: 28/09/54, enlistment: 15/03/82, promotion: 23/02/2012, retirement: 28/09/2014 and David O. Omojola (Ekiti State), birth: 10/01/55, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 22/02/2012, retirement: 10/01/2015.
The only AIG from North East zone is Kakwe Christopher Katso (Taraba State), birth: 29/09/59, enlistment: 31/12/84, promotion: 16/01/2014, retirement: 29/09/2019. The group further said: “Another shocking discovery from the list of the 21 serving AIGs in the present NPF, apart from the inexcusable and despicable exclusion of the Southeast zone from the list, is that no woman is among the 21 AIGs.
This is despite the fact that women first enrolled into the NPF as far back as 1955. Further fact is that one of the oldest serving police officers/CPs in the present NPF is a woman. She is Mrs. Chintua Amajor-Onu (Abia State, Southeast). She was enlisted on 01/12/81 and has been a Commissioner of Police since 20/12/2010.” It added that the geopolitical lopsidedness is also manifested in the 88 serving CP in the NPF, including four specialists.
“In the list, the Southeast geopolitical zone has the least number of serving CPs with eight. Out of the said 88 CPs, the Northwest geopolitical zone, the zone of the present IGP, Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar; has 21CPs, followed by Northcentral with 18 CPs, Southwest 17 CPs, Northeast 13 CPs, South-south 11 CPs and Southeast with only 8 CPs.” “An aspect of the promotions that was worrisome, is that all the eight Southeast CPs have between this year (2014) and 2016 to retire either by clocking mandatory retirement age of 60 or mandatory retirement service age of 35 years.
According to the group, the trio of Godfrey E. Okeke(16/09/2014), Ikechukwu Aduba (09/07/2014) and Sylvester A. Umeh(10/11/2014) will retire this year (2014), while Felix Osita Uyanna (15/01/2015), Ikemefuna R. Okoye (15/06/2015) and Hilary Opara (17/07/2015) will go in 2015. The other two, Mrs. Chintua Amajor-Onu and Dr. Mrs. Grace Chita Okudo will retire in 2016.
“This is because of the deliberate long delays in promoting them alongside their counterparts from other parts of the country. They are victims of “promotion dormancy policy” in the NPF inflicted on the police officers of Southeast geopolitical zone,” the letter states. “The duo of CPs Hilary Opara and Felix Osita Uyanna had their last promotions as CPs on 18/12/2006 and 16/10/2007 respectively, a period of almost eight and seven years respectively.”
The group listed the eight serving Commissioners of Police from Southeast and their birth, enlistment, promotion and retirement dates as follows; Hilary Opara (Imo State), birth: 31/07/55, enlistment: 17/07/80, promotion: 18/12/2006, retirement: 17/07/2015. 2. Felix Osita Uyanna (Anambra State), birth: 01/05/55, enlistment: 18/07/80, promotion: 06/10/2007, retirement: 05/01/2015. 3. Godfrey E. Okeke( Anambra State), birth: 16/09/54, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 16/09/2014. 4. Chintua Amajor-Onu(Mrs.)( Abia State), birth: 12/07/56, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 12/07/2016. 5. Ikechukwu Aduba (Anambra State), birth: 09/07/54, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 09/07/2014. 6. Sylvester A. Umeh(Enugu State), birth: 10/11/54, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 10/11/2014. 7. Ikemefuna R. Okoye (Anambra State), birth: 15/06/55, enlistment: 01/12/81, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 15/06/2015. 8.
Mrs. Grace Chita Okudo (medical doctor), from Ebonyi State. She was born on 09/02/56, enlistment: 13/06/83, promotion: 20/12/2012 and retirement: 09/02/2016. The 21 CPs from Northwest zone and their birth, enlistment, promotion and retirement dates are as follows: Ibrahim M. Maishanu (Sokoto State), birth: 11/10/59, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 01/01/2009, retirement: 01/01/2019. Lawal Tanko (Kaduna State), birth: 14/03/57, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 14/03/2017. Buhari Tanko (Kano State), birth: 03/02/56, enlistment: 01/01/84, promotion: 20/12/2010, retirement: 03/02/2016.
Mohammed A. Indabawa( Kano State), birth:12/04/56, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 20/12/2010,retirement: 30/07/2014. Mohammed Ibrahim Sumaila(Kano State), birth: 30/11/55, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 30/07/2014. Mohammed Ladan(Kano State), birth: 05/05/54, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 30/07/2014. Umar Gwadabe(Kano State), birth: 20/02/56, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 30/07/2014. Sanusi A. Rufai (Katsina State), birth: 27/08/57, enlistment: 01/08/80, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 01/08/2015. Musa Katsina Mohammed (Katsina State), birth: 1959, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 01/02/2019. Others are; Usman Twili Abubakar ( Kebbi State), birth: 15/10/59, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 01/08/2012, retirement: 15/10/2019. Ahmed Ibrahim (Kano State), birth: 06/05/57, enlistment: 01/08/80, promotion: 30/01/2013, retirement: 01/08/2015.
Maigari Abbati Dikko (Katsina State), birth: 16/03/61, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 03/04/2013, retirement: 01/02/2021. Umaru U. Shehu (Kebbi State), birth: 18/06/58, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 03/04/2013, retirement: 18/06/2018. Saidu Madawaki ( Kebbi State), birth: 05/05/58, enlistment: 30/07/79, promotion: 03/04/2013, retirement: 30/07/2014. Ibrahim Adamu (Zamfara State), birth: 20/11/58, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 20/11/2018. Abdul Dahiru Danwawu (Kano State), birth: 20/10/60, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 26/10/2020. Salisu Fagge Abdullahi (Kano State), birth: 01/07/58, enlistment: 01/02/86, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 01/02/2018. Lawal Shehu (Katsina State), birth: 24/12/60, enlistment: 15/03/88, promotion: 24/09/2013, retirement: 24/12/2020.
Nyats Nyehsu Jatau (Kaduna State), birth: 15/12/56, enlistment: 01/08/80, promotion: 04/10/2013, retirement: 01/08/2015. Mohammed K. Mohammed (Katsina State), birth: 02/06/57, enlistment: 01/08/81, promotion: 21/01/2014, retirement: 01/08/2016. Hurdi D. Abubakar Mohammed (Jigawa State), birth: 05/02/62, enlistment: 15/03/88, promotion: 21/01/2014, retirement: 05/02/2022.
The 18 CPs from the North-central zone are; Umaru Abubakar Manko (Niger State), Joel Kayode Theophilus (Kogi State), Wilfred Eje Obute (Benue State), James Olorundare Aronito (Kogi State), Ibrahim K. Idris (Niger State), Shuaibu L. Gambo ( Niger State), John A.B. Opadokun (Kwara State), Waheed Olayinka Salau( Kwara State), Dorothy A. Gimba (Plateau State), Salihu Garba (Niger State), Kudu Nma (Niger State), Usman Yakubu (Niger State), Abdulmajid Ali (Niger State), Abubakar Adamu Mohammed (Nasarawa State), Abdul Salami Iyaji ( Kogi State), Yakubu O. Jibrin ( Nasarawa State), Abimbola Macaulay (Kwara State), Usman Isa Baba (Nasarawa State). B
ut while the protest and complains go on, New Telegraph investigation revealed that the problem of the South East in the Police is not a new development. Rather, it appears structured in the scheme of the Force. Since the independence of Nigeria in 1960, only Onovo has made it to the top from the South-East. Okiro, the other Igbo that has made it is regarded as a south- southerner. Sources said even if every IGP and Police Service Commission Chiefs were to favour their zones, the South East would still have had the short end of the stick.
That, according to a former member of the PSC was a result of the long policy of delayed promotions for South Easterners. According to him, “while northerners and others make their promotions in due time, the South easterners in the police have the misfortune of delayed promotion. Thus, when they even rise to a level of reason, they are old and cannot even be useful within the short period left for them.” But the spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force, Frank Mba, reacting to the alleged marginalization, said the Abubakar has nothing to do with promotions with respect to senior police officers.
He urged Nigerians to check the Constitution of the country, adding that the third schedule of the constitution, part M, Section 29, establishes the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Section 30 of the schedule states: “.the commission shall have power to (a) appoint persons to office,(other than the IGP), in the Nigerian Police Force and (B) dismissed and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office in sub paragraph…” He added: “The implication above showed that the power to appoint and promote and discipline officers is squarely vested on the PSC and not the IGP.
“The current arrangement in the police today, is that the IGP can only exercise delegated authority to promote persons between the ranks of constable to Inspector. All promotion from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIG) is squarely within the confines of the authority of the PSC. Therefore, the allegation against the IGP is most uncharitable.”
But the PSC spokesman, Ferdinand Ekpe, while confirming that he had heard about the allegations about the South East in Nigerian Police Force, not having equal promotion as their counterparts, said that a press conference was already scheduled for Thursday this week, to address the issue. A retired DIG, who was instrumental in the production of the blueprint that led to Niger Delta militants being offered amnesty and now runs a law chamber of his own, said he had no comment on the issue. A retired Commissioner of police, Abubakar Tsav, said that promotion in the Nigerian Police Force is based on merit and seniority.
“Promotion in the force is based on seniority and merit. There was a time in the police, when most of the senior police officers, especially in the rank of commissioners of police, were Igbo. “It means they were in a particular batch. After that batch, comes another batch. If some senior police officers in the next batch for promotion are not from the South East, those who are junior would not be promoted along with the senior just because they are Igbo. You can’t pick from lower rank, to promote with senior rank. It would create disaffection. “We should however not try to introduce tribalism and ethnicity into the force.
It will not be good for the force. There was time all CPs were Igbo and the next batch, there was no single Igbo. “But again, people who are due for retirement should be retired, so that others would be promoted to the next rank!” Another retired Commissioner of Police, Frank Odita, said that promotion in the police was not a right, but a privilege. “Promotion is by seniority, federal character and merit.
Merit had however been played down in the police, while federal character had been played high. If you have more tribe in the batch of promotion, they’ll suffer, because it’s likely only one person would be picked. But if you are, many are likely to be picked. Until that federal character is reversed, there’s nothing anybody can do about it.” Comfort Obi, a journalist and Commissioner in the PSC, holds the same view.
She said that it was Federal Character that destroyed the police until the PSC headed by Parry Osarinde came into being. She pointed out that it was that PSC that reduced Federal Character influence on the promotion of Police officers, save for the position of the DIGs, which are considered political. According to her, every zone must have a DIG. Obi did not find the criticisms funny. She said it was partly due to ignorance, even though she acknowledged that the activities of past IGPs before the PSC was set up contributed to the problem. For now though, it appears the anger will go on for a while.
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