Onu To Buhari: Do Not Allow Ethnicity And Religion Disqualify The Only Qualified Police Officer For IGP

*Says Buhari’s New Year Speech empty and uninspiring
*Says the only eligible and qualified person to replace the current
IGP is a Southerner.

A human rights lawyer and activist, Mr. Silas Joseph Onu, has
called on President Buhari to shun ethnicity and immediately
appoint the only qualified police officer, whom he understands is
from Bayelsa state, as the new Inspector General of Police to
replace the present one who is due for retirement on February
2021.

This is contained in an open letter dated January 2, 2021
addressed to the President and made available to Nairalaw
titled: “RE: BUHARI NEW YEAR’S SPEECH AND THE REJIGGING OF SECURITY
AGENCIES – MATTERS ARISING.”

Onu first wished President Buhari and his family/cabinet, a
happy new year and also expressed joy on the news of the release of
the auxiliary Bishop of Owerri and described it as “one that brings
hope in the new year, even as his kidnap is still an issue of great
concern.”

As prayer is being made for God’s intervention in this new year,
Onu cautions that “our myriads of insecurity and other leadership
challenges will not disappear simply because we have exited one
year and entered another.”

He said he hardly listens to President Buhari’s speeches because
they are uninspiring and devoid sincerity. But given that yesterday
was new year, he decided to listen to Buhari’s speech but as usual,
the new year speech was not different from previous ones – full of
rhetorics and uninspiring

“Your Excellency, I usually do not listen to your speeches as
they are mostly uninspiring and full of rhetorics without a
scintila of sincerity or willingness to follow through with the
contents of such speeches. It became as if Mr. President is not the
author of his own speeches, and or, Mr. President was not even
consulted in the development of his speech. It appears to me that
certain powerful interest groups around Mr. President are
responsible for His Excellency’s many empty speeches.

“However, considering that yesterday was an auspicious day and
one that many Nigerians, including my humble self, were seeking
hope and inspiration from its leaders – religious and political, I
made sure that i listened to much publicised Presidential New
Year’s Speech.

“Mr. President, I must say that after listening to your New
Year’s Speech, it wasn’t different from all other speeches that i
had earlier categorised as empty. In a new year speech, Nigerians
would have been inspired if it wasn’t full of rhetoric and went
further to be a decisive speech.” he said

Giving reasons for describing President Buhari’s speech as
empty, Onu said Nigerians want action, not mere poetic words.
President Buhari should have just announced the terminal leave of
the current Inspector General of Police and appointment of new one
as part of the reorganization

He said, “I will centre my reason for calling Your Excellency’s
an empty one on the aspect of rejigging the security architecture
of our nation.

“Mr. President sir, Nigerians have seen too much killings and
other terrible vices which are direct consequences of a totally
inept security apparatus. Such experience by Nigerians cannot be
assuaged by mere words that are couched in poetic dictions designed
to inspire hope, no! Nigerians want to see action!

“Mr. President has made many remarks like this that have never
seen the light of day – there is now a trust deficit between
Nigerians and Mr. President.

“Your Excellency, your New Year’s speech presented an
opportunity for you to keep to your oath of office, one of which is
to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (this includes all laws made pursuant to the Constitution)
by straightly announcing that as part of the decision to reorganise
the Nigerian Security, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is to
proceed on terminal leave in accordance with our law and the most
qualified senior Police Officer who has got requisite time (4 years
as required by the Police Act, 2020) be appointed immediately to
begin a reform and total restructuring of the Nigerian Police. This
would have made your new year speech a sincere and forceful
one.”

Onu emphasized that Nigerians are not interested in the proposed
reorganization of the security as there is suspicion that same is
meant to further perpetuate northerners in the position. He hailed
the new Police Act for having laudable provisions and designed with
best intentions. However, he fears that the intention will be
rubbished by Buhari with nepotism and ethnicity

“Nigerians aren’t really interested in the reorganisation being
proposed in the Presidential New Year Speech as many have dismissed
the plan to be another agenda for further nothernization of the
security agencies. No one actually believes that Mr. President will
follow the law that he personally signed in 2020. A law designed
with the best of intentions, but will be rubbished on the alter of
nepotism, ethnicity and favouritism as has been the case since
2015.

“I am focusing on the Police, not because there are no issues
with the handling of the Armed Forces and the DSS, no! I am
focusing on the Police because it presents a clear and present
danger of how nepotism, ethnicity and favouritism can destroy our
nation.

“I have got a number of good friends who are fine officers of
the Nigerian Police and that was how i got to know that the present
Inspector General is due for retirement on February 1 2021. I also
took special interest in the new Police Act, 2020 signed by Mr.
President and it is a laudable first step towards a new Police
Force in Nigeria.

“One of the problems that this new Police Act will cure is to
stop the office of the IGP from being a place for retirement plans
by very Senior officers who have just a short time to retirement.
The law also eliminate the chances of lobbying for tenure extension
upon the attainment of retirement age. We saw the law in action
late last year when DIG Anthony Ogbizi retired after putting in 35
years of service, even when his 60th birthday is in February of
this year together with the IGP. What is interesting is that DIG
Ogbizi was recruited on the same day with the current IGP, hasn’t
he attained the 35 years of service too? Our brand new law is
gradually being thrown into the dustbin by Mr. President.” he
said

Furthermore, Silas Onu expressed concern that there is rumor
making the rounds that President Buhari is desperate to replace the
current IGP with another Northerner, instead of the only eligible
person whom he understands is from Bayelsa State.

He urged Mr. President to stop bringing politics into
appointments regarding security agencies as that will go a long way
in revamping the nation’s security.

The letter reads in part, “Another very interesting, but
dangerous stories making the round is that Mr. President is
desperately seeking to replace the current IGP with another
northerner by possibly promoting some Commissioners of northern
extraction to the rank of Assistant Inspector General and thereby
evade the only southerner with the most excellent qualifications
and age for the realisation of a reform into modern policing. It
has been said that Mr. President will never appoint a Southerner as
the IGP, not atleast someone whom i understand is from Bayelsa
State.

“Well, if the people of Bayelsa are less interested in ensuring
that their rights as Nigerians is fully given to them, it will be
unfortunate. I say this because if the most qualified Police
officer to be an IGP is from my State, i will mobilise my people
and fight openly for him. Nigeria has reached that level of
decadence where qualified persons must fight to get a deserving
job.

“So, Mr. President sir, you still have the window to begin
inspiring Nigerians in this new year with actions, not mere words.
I am interested to see how you will handle this Police issue.
Whether you will be a President for all Nigerians or a President
for those you conaider more Nigerian than others. The politics of
appointment into our critical security agencies has to stop in this
new year in orde to stem the astronomical rise in the tide of
insecurity and needless loss of lives.

“Begin now and we will know if you truly meant your word on
revamping our nation’s security for good.

“I am not an ethnic jingoist and will support any officer that
is the most qualified by the Standard set out in the Nigerian
Police Act, 2020. As it stands today and in the next 4 years, i
understand that only one officer is so qualified and he is from
Bayelsa State and the only disqualifying factor standing against
him is his state of origin and religion. Let us hope that these
concerns are mere rumours and that the most qualified will emerge
to lead the Police under the new Act.

“Your Excellency, i do wish you, once again, a happy and
eventful new year.

Thank you sir.”

*Says Buhari’s New Year Speech empty and uninspiring
*Says the only eligible and qualified person to replace the current
IGP is a Southerner.

A human rights lawyer and activist, Mr. Silas Joseph Onu, has
called on President Buhari to shun ethnicity and immediately
appoint the only qualified police officer, whom he understands is
from Bayelsa state, as the new Inspector General of Police to
replace the present one who is due for retirement on February
2021.

This is contained in an open letter dated January 2, 2021
addressed to the President and made available to Nairalaw
titled: “RE: BUHARI NEW YEAR’S SPEECH AND THE REJIGGING OF SECURITY
AGENCIES – MATTERS ARISING.”

Onu first wished President Buhari and his family/cabinet, a
happy new year and also expressed joy on the news of the release of
the auxiliary Bishop of Owerri and described it as “one that brings
hope in the new year, even as his kidnap is still an issue of great
concern.”

As prayer is being made for God’s intervention in this new year,
Onu cautions that “our myriads of insecurity and other leadership
challenges will not disappear simply because we have exited one
year and entered another.”

He said he hardly listens to President Buhari’s speeches because
they are uninspiring and devoid sincerity. But given that yesterday
was new year, he decided to listen to Buhari’s speech but as usual,
the new year speech was not different from previous ones – full of
rhetorics and uninspiring

“Your Excellency, I usually do not listen to your speeches as
they are mostly uninspiring and full of rhetorics without a
scintila of sincerity or willingness to follow through with the
contents of such speeches. It became as if Mr. President is not the
author of his own speeches, and or, Mr. President was not even
consulted in the development of his speech. It appears to me that
certain powerful interest groups around Mr. President are
responsible for His Excellency’s many empty speeches.

“However, considering that yesterday was an auspicious day and
one that many Nigerians, including my humble self, were seeking
hope and inspiration from its leaders – religious and political, I
made sure that i listened to much publicised Presidential New
Year’s Speech.

“Mr. President, I must say that after listening to your New
Year’s Speech, it wasn’t different from all other speeches that i
had earlier categorised as empty. In a new year speech, Nigerians
would have been inspired if it wasn’t full of rhetoric and went
further to be a decisive speech.” he said

Giving reasons for describing President Buhari’s speech as
empty, Onu said Nigerians want action, not mere poetic words.
President Buhari should have just announced the terminal leave of
the current Inspector General of Police and appointment of new one
as part of the reorganization

He said, “I will centre my reason for calling Your Excellency’s
an empty one on the aspect of rejigging the security architecture
of our nation.

“Mr. President sir, Nigerians have seen too much killings and
other terrible vices which are direct consequences of a totally
inept security apparatus. Such experience by Nigerians cannot be
assuaged by mere words that are couched in poetic dictions designed
to inspire hope, no! Nigerians want to see action!

“Mr. President has made many remarks like this that have never
seen the light of day – there is now a trust deficit between
Nigerians and Mr. President.

“Your Excellency, your New Year’s speech presented an
opportunity for you to keep to your oath of office, one of which is
to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (this includes all laws made pursuant to the Constitution)
by straightly announcing that as part of the decision to reorganise
the Nigerian Security, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is to
proceed on terminal leave in accordance with our law and the most
qualified senior Police Officer who has got requisite time (4 years
as required by the Police Act, 2020) be appointed immediately to
begin a reform and total restructuring of the Nigerian Police. This
would have made your new year speech a sincere and forceful
one.”

Onu emphasized that Nigerians are not interested in the proposed
reorganization of the security as there is suspicion that same is
meant to further perpetuate northerners in the position. He hailed
the new Police Act for having laudable provisions and designed with
best intentions. However, he fears that the intention will be
rubbished by Buhari with nepotism and ethnicity

“Nigerians aren’t really interested in the reorganisation being
proposed in the Presidential New Year Speech as many have dismissed
the plan to be another agenda for further nothernization of the
security agencies. No one actually believes that Mr. President will
follow the law that he personally signed in 2020. A law designed
with the best of intentions, but will be rubbished on the alter of
nepotism, ethnicity and favouritism as has been the case since
2015.

“I am focusing on the Police, not because there are no issues
with the handling of the Armed Forces and the DSS, no! I am
focusing on the Police because it presents a clear and present
danger of how nepotism, ethnicity and favouritism can destroy our
nation.

“I have got a number of good friends who are fine officers of
the Nigerian Police and that was how i got to know that the present
Inspector General is due for retirement on February 1 2021. I also
took special interest in the new Police Act, 2020 signed by Mr.
President and it is a laudable first step towards a new Police
Force in Nigeria.

“One of the problems that this new Police Act will cure is to
stop the office of the IGP from being a place for retirement plans
by very Senior officers who have just a short time to retirement.
The law also eliminate the chances of lobbying for tenure extension
upon the attainment of retirement age. We saw the law in action
late last year when DIG Anthony Ogbizi retired after putting in 35
years of service, even when his 60th birthday is in February of
this year together with the IGP. What is interesting is that DIG
Ogbizi was recruited on the same day with the current IGP, hasn’t
he attained the 35 years of service too? Our brand new law is
gradually being thrown into the dustbin by Mr. President.” he
said

Furthermore, Silas Onu expressed concern that there is rumor
making the rounds that President Buhari is desperate to replace the
current IGP with another Northerner, instead of the only eligible
person whom he understands is from Bayelsa State.

He urged Mr. President to stop bringing politics into
appointments regarding security agencies as that will go a long way
in revamping the nation’s security.

The letter reads in part, “Another very interesting, but
dangerous stories making the round is that Mr. President is
desperately seeking to replace the current IGP with another
northerner by possibly promoting some Commissioners of northern
extraction to the rank of Assistant Inspector General and thereby
evade the only southerner with the most excellent qualifications
and age for the realisation of a reform into modern policing. It
has been said that Mr. President will never appoint a Southerner as
the IGP, not atleast someone whom i understand is from Bayelsa
State.

“Well, if the people of Bayelsa are less interested in ensuring
that their rights as Nigerians is fully given to them, it will be
unfortunate. I say this because if the most qualified Police
officer to be an IGP is from my State, i will mobilise my people
and fight openly for him. Nigeria has reached that level of
decadence where qualified persons must fight to get a deserving
job.

“So, Mr. President sir, you still have the window to begin
inspiring Nigerians in this new year with actions, not mere words.
I am interested to see how you will handle this Police issue.
Whether you will be a President for all Nigerians or a President
for those you conaider more Nigerian than others. The politics of
appointment into our critical security agencies has to stop in this
new year in orde to stem the astronomical rise in the tide of
insecurity and needless loss of lives.

“Begin now and we will know if you truly meant your word on
revamping our nation’s security for good.

“I am not an ethnic jingoist and will support any officer that
is the most qualified by the Standard set out in the Nigerian
Police Act, 2020. As it stands today and in the next 4 years, i
understand that only one officer is so qualified and he is from
Bayelsa State and the only disqualifying factor standing against
him is his state of origin and religion. Let us hope that these
concerns are mere rumours and that the most qualified will emerge
to lead the Police under the new Act.

“Your Excellency, i do wish you, once again, a happy and
eventful new year.

Thank you sir.”