Replace retiring IGP with officer from southeast, group tells Buhari

A civil rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to replace retiring Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, with an officer of Igbo extraction.

The chairman of its board of trustees, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, made the call in a report to The Guardian.

Intersociety pointed out that since Idris is due to statutorily retire from the Nigeria Police on January 3, 2019, it is important for the president to apply the federal character principle by getting his successor from the southeast.

The group explained that going by the Staff List of the Senior Police Officers (IGP-CSP), “the outgoing IGP joined the Force on December 31, 1984, and was born on January 3, 1959.”

It added that by January 3, 2019, he would have attained both 60 years of civil service retirement age limits and 35 years of civil service maximum years of service.

These, the, group noted are all in accordance with the Civil Service Rules of the Federation 2008.

Intersociety further urged the president to use the opportunity to address the noticeable imbalance in the nation’s security architecture.

The group added: “Intersociety’s resolve to highlight the above and bring same to public domain is not only to put the record straight, but also to expose and put an end to the purported ongoing plots by Nigeria’s ruling cabal and profiteers of ethno-religious chauvinism in the country to bend the rules.

“This includes pushing the retirement of IGP Ibrahim Idris-off the Nigerian and world media attention to subvert due process and law to unlawfully, illegally and unconstitutionally retain him as IGP for purpose of “2019 lucrative election security,” among other parochial and ethno-religious interests.