Role of IGP Idris in growing Nigeria’s democracy, by MOHAMMED BABA BUSU

The recent unfortunate outburst by the Senate on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, after a closed door session when it declared the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, as enemy of democracy is another step taken too far by the chamber.
It did not stop there but went ahead, with ignominy, to declare the IGP as unfit to hold any public office within and outside the country. What a shameless outburst from people who should protect national institutions and figures.
The resolution came as a result of the IGP’s inability to personally honour the invitation the Senate extended to him to discuss some salient security issues in the country. But the Senate displayed insensitivity to national issues and deliberately ganged up to blackmail and destroy the hardearned reputation build by the IGP over the years in his career as a vibrant, transparent and honest police officer.
The Senate would rather throw decorum and honour to the dogs all in defence of a criminal suspect standing trial before a court of competent jurisdiction. Where lies the honour and glory of the country which they swore by the holy books to uphold? In fact, to many, the Senate constitution being a respected law making body mostly dominated by “elder statesmen”, seems to have thrown caution to the wind through the harsh declaration.
It is believed that gray hair naturally comes along with patience, resilience, maturity, understanding and in most cases, wisdom to handle and tackle situations, but it seems, however, that our revered Senate got it wrong this time around. It is tempting to stress that the Senate is going too far in personalising the Dino Melaye saga. If this is the case, then it is most unfortunate and dangerous to our democracy. Many Nigerians believe that the issue at stake – the inability of the IGP to personally honour the invitation extended by the Senate is a non issue as the IGP, since his assumption of office, has honoured Senate invitations over 10 times before this incident.
This singular incident, therefore, cannot be interpreted in any way to mean that he (IGP) disrespects the Senate as he sent a delegation to represent him under the leadership of a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), who is the number 3 in the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force. This is also in accordance with Section 215(1a) of the Nigeria’s constitution and the Police Act and Regulations Section 309(1) and in sections 7(1), 312(1) , 313(2).
The law states that the functions, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General of Police can also be carried out by a senior officer of the Force of the rank of DIG of Police or an AIG of Police who, if permitted by the IGP to act on his behalf or represent him in an official capacity at any official function, event or programme within and outside Nigeria, can do so in consonant with the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations. On the other hand, the management principle of delegation of responsibilities is applied globally in all facets of human endeavour.
This is because no human being is indispensable, hence, every organisation that operates under best international global practices has hierarchy of authority where delegation of responsibilities is made possible. The Nigeria Police Force, is not an exception. It was on this premise that on April 25, 2018, the Senate invited the IGP to appear before it on the April 26, 2018, in respect of the Dino Melaye issue but because he was on an official assignment with the President to Bauchi on same date, he delegated the DIG in charge, Department of Operations, AIGs and some Commissioners of Police conversant with the matter to brief the Senate.
They were, however, not comfortable with that. Again on April 26, 2018, the Senate wrote the IGP reinviting him to appear before the Senate in person on May 2, 2018, but this time around the IGP went for an official assignment to Birnin-Gwari Area of Kaduna State to attend to some very serious security matters of national importance and promptly delegated the DIG, Research and Planning, AIGs and Commissioners of Police to represent him and brief the Senate on the same subject matter. The Senate again rejected him. From these incidents, it is clear that the IGP did not disregard or look down on the Senate in any way. It should, however, be noted that the reason the IGP was invited by the Senate is official and not personal, hence, should be treated officially.
This is what the IGP did by sending top members of the police hierarchy to represent him. While calling on the Senate to retract the declaration about the IGP, it is pertinent to call on the Senate to ensure the expeditious passage of the budget so that the Nigeria Police Force can have the needed funds to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.
It is also necessary to inform the Senate and indeed, all Nigerians, that IGP Idris has performed excellently well in reducing drastically the rate of crime and criminality in the country since his assumption of office. Since his assumption of office, IGP Idris has reduced kidnapping by almost 95 per cent. This is because since the past one month, there has not been any reported case of kidnapping in any part of the country.
It is also on record that over 20,000 arms and ammunitions have been recovered and over 5000 kidnappers and criminals have so far been arrested and are in various courts in the country. Law abiding Nigerians are moving about without any molestation. It is therefore, important to advise the Senate to, rather than condemning the IGP, should commend him for the feat achieved since his assumption of office. Nigerians must therefore join hands with the Police to make the country a safer and better place for all of us. Baba Busu writes from Abuja

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