Direct IG to proceed on one-month pre-retirement training, group tells Buhari

A group, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to give his pre-retirement notice and proceed on his mandatory one-month pre-retirement training.

Besides, the body has accused the President of planning to retain the IGP apparently to attempt to politicise the Nigeria Police Force to “thwart the electoral will of Nigerians.”

First Vice National Spokesman of the coalition, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, accompanied by the National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA) and Secretary, Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the CUPP, Kenneth Udeze, while briefing journalists in Owerri yesterday, said the President should obey the constitution by ensuring that Idris retires accordingly.

He also accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole; Governor of Kano State, Umar Gandoje; Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai; former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio and that of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, of lobbying to retain the IGP after expiration of his service tenure.He said: “Opposition will not recognise Idris as Police IG if he remains in office after reaching the mandatory 60 years retirement age on January 15, 2019.

However, the group raised the alarm that the former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Lawal Daura, has been named “head of the inaugurated presidential committee campaign council, saying: “This move is to assault on our democracy, the march for free election and decency.”The CUPP chieftain said Daura should have been arraigned for attacking the National Assembly.

He said: “We call on President Buhari to face the election within the ambit of the decency and constitutionally-acceptable actions and stop his panicky actions, which if left unchecked, will undermine our democracy and electoral process.”