The war of attrition between immediate past Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Ehigiator Arase, and his successor, Ibrahim Idris, has roots in a query the former gave to the latter just before he retired.
It also has much bearing on the politics of how Idris emerged as the nation’s number one policeman.
Quite unlike the espirit de corps that attends police matters, Idris went public last Sunday, accusing his predecessor of going away with 24 official cars, while some other Deputy Inspectors General of Police left with varying number of exotic vehicles.
It is now understood that recommendations favouring two other Assistant Inspectors General (AIG)s from the North Central by some powerful politicians got Arase’s tacit approval that the duo were veritable options to succeed him.
This information, however, got to Idris immediately after he was appointed, further straining the already frosty relationship.Idris was announced as Acting IGP on June 22, 2016, amid insinuations in some quarters that another AIG of Niger State origin, an heir apparent to one of the emirate stools, was to succeed Arase as the next IGP, as he was asked to fly from Lagos to Abuja, dressed in full regalia as “the President may want to have a private conversation with him.”
The Guardian inquiry reveals that, though he came as directed, he was told the audience with the President was cancelled and a few hours later Idris was announced the next IGP.
But Arase’s recommendation preferring others to him allegedly angered Idris as he displayed much in his take-over speech.
As has become customary with all chief executives, they acknowledge the contributions of their predecessors in their first speech on taking over, but Idris toed an uncharted path.
He did not hide his displeasure, making reference to the need to look into accounts of the cooperatives and insurance scheme. Throughout the 14-page speech, no mention was made of the acclaimed achievements of Arase.
In the course of the speech, and to the surprise of those present, Idris called out to AIG Dorothy Gimba, the officer in charge of cooperatives, saying: “We would look at the records of the Police Cooperative, the expenditures, spending. There is need to be transparent with what is happening there. Officers, the rank and file especially are the highest contributors.
“They would want to know what happens to their contributions”.
The signs of trouble became glaring when, a few days after The Guardian reported the decision of the new leadership to probe Arase, Idris appointed two independent auditors to check the books of police investments bodies and subsidiaries.
Force spokesman Don Awuna named the firms to be audited to include Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Pensions, NPF Mortgage Bank, NPF Corporative Limited, NPF HMO, NPF Insurance and NPF Property Development Company.
Idris said: “the exercise is aimed at carrying out due diligence to ascertain the true financial position, assets and liabilities, challenges and recommendations on how to restructure and reposition these subsidiaries for effective and efficient services, profitability and return of investment to shareholders and Nigeria Police Community at large”.
But The Guardian investigation showed further that apart from the hostility towards the immediate past IGP arising from Arase’s perceived preference to others to succeed him, a query Idris received a few days to the time providence took him to the exalted chair did not help matters. He was allegedly queried , according to sources, for professional irresponsibility.
On the reason for Arase’s query to Idris, sources said the latter, who was then the AIG (Operations) had embarked on a trip outside the Force Headquarters without the consent of his bosses, DIG (Operations), Sontoye Wakama and Arase.
He was said to have travelled to one of the North Eastern states to see one of the powerful Emirs to put in a word for him to be appointed the IGP.
Arase was allegedly infuriated by this action and asked that he be queried. He, Idris, was yet to answer the query, when he was appointed the Ag.IGP.
This is the major sin Arase is known to have committed against him.
Although Arase has not responded to The Guardian’s inquiries as he is said to be out of the country, it was reliably gathered that the former IGP has told those close to him thathe believes his actions were in order and that “professional misbehaviour” should not be condoned.”
“In fact,” he is quoted to have said, “if given the chance again, he would punish a Police officer that engages in such action.”
The former IGP has, however, denied the allegation of carting away 24 cars or even receiving a letter demanding for them from the police authorities.
Force Public Relations Officer Don Awunah declined comments on the matter, saying he was yet to be briefed appropriately.
Culled from The Guardian
Posts
