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| THE CHOICE OF A NEW NIGERIA POLICE CHIEF::::: |
5/14/2009 |
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Many newspapers and commentators have recently written about the retirement of the current Nigerian Police Chief, Sir Mike Okiro, who is due to leave the job on statutory age criteria come July 2009. Many of these writers have postulated several DIGs, AIGs and even CPs for that exalted office which makes any one so appointed to become the No.1 Police officer in the country. But some of us here in Diaspora are becoming confused for such postulation given that police formation is built on a hierarchical structure where the most senior officer takes over in case of death or retirement of the officer in-charge.
How could we then be talking of who takes over while the line of seniority in Nigeria police force is there to show the next most ranking officer in the force. Just last year, the former Chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu who was promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) by the then sitting President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was demoted from the rank of AIG to DCP because he was jump promoted ahead of his course mates and was subsequently dismissed from the Force for insubordinations to his seniors. It is therefore disheartening to read that the President, His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is being pressured by a group of Nigerians to appoint a junior officer to take over from the incumbent police Chief while there is a seniority list of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police force.
We are therefore advising the President and the Police Service Commission (PSC) who have the power to choose the next IGP to know that the world is watching to know if they are going to use due process of seniority in the force as their criteria (especially as about 140 police officers were demoted by the PSC because of their privileged promotions ahead of their squad mates) or if political, religious or ethnic consideration is going to play role in their choice of a new helmsman of the Nigeria Police Force. We really know that the President has the prerogative power to choose the next IGP but since our President is a person who professes the rule of law we advise him to just ask the incumbent IGP to hand over to his immediate junior as long as the officer is not among those shortlisted for retirement based on their statutory age or service limit of 60 and 35 years respectively. But for purpose of clarity, “who is the next highest ranking police officer in Nigeria after IGP Mike Okiro?”
From records, we understand that going by the date of last promotion and even the structure of the Nigeria Police Force, the baton is supposed to be passed over to DIG Ogbonnaya Onovo. He was appointed to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police on 14th March, 2002 and is currently occupying the office of the DIG “A” - Finance and Administration which by all ramifications qualifies him as the next in line for the office of the Inspector General of Police. From records, he was even accredited to take over the leadership of the police force from the former IGP Sunday Ehindaro but for reasons known to the authority he was substituted at the last minute. Notwithstanding, he humbled himself for the sake of one Nigeria and the 7-point agenda of Mr. President which include priority on security and committed himself to serve under a comparatively junior officer. He also has up to 2012 before retirement on statutory service limit of 35years.
The same record tells us that this man, Ogbonnaya Onovo is an exemplary gentleman who has the interest of Nigeria at heart. He showed that modest in him when he instead of retiring or instigating his tribesmen against the government accepted in good faith the decision of Mr. President to appoint the current IGP ahead of him. It revealed that Mr. Onovo sees Nigeria as a corporate body that has no boundaries. Who is this man Ogbonnaya Onovo? We went further to check his CV and we discovered that he is a tested man having held the office of Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) between 1998 and 2000. He was once in charge of Interpol and a member of International Police Officers Association. Before his current position, he was the DIG “D” which is in charge of Federal Investigations and Intelligence Bureau.
He has served as Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police in Ogun and Edo states respectively. Most interesting part of his service is that he remained in the Force headquarters under the Force secretary for a period spanning from 1984 to 1993 and have therefore learned the job having served all the previous IGPs within that period. He has also been a Deputy Inspector General of Police for seven years under three IGPs which makes him a perfect person to assume the role of leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. If the Nigeria Police Force was an academic institution, Mr. Onovo would have been awarded a PhD having been a good student of the force. Even Gen. Collin Powel of the US Army was appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff because of his long service at the military.
Furthermore, as concerned citizens, we are just being patriotic by making our voice to be heard before the selection process. Actually, we were able to check the records of all the names proposed for the exalted office and have to appreciate that men and woman like DIG Uba Ringim, DIG John Hamza Ahmadu and AIG Ivy Uche Okoronkwo are really fine officers and capable of heading the force but one thing is that we are not talking about one’s capability. If we are talking about capability, we can even find one in the ranks of Superintendent of Police who may even be a better manager than the most senior officers but what we are concerned about is the process of producing the next Police chief in order to restore discipline and due process of law to our society.
Ethnicity, religion and political bearing, we think, should not be seen as a reason of denying any Nigerian of his/her rightful post or position in our society. Finally, we want to say that if our government is really honest in her 2020 agenda of becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world, the leadership should be able to optimize our procurement processes in every facet of life including appointment of officers and men in our ministries and parastatals.
We therefore conclude this piece by asking His Excellency, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to use his good offices to ask the outgoing Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro IGP to hand over to the next person in line of seniority in person of DIG Ogbonnaya Onovo. He has all it takes to head the Nigeria Police Force and should not be thrown out of the force for reasons order than statutory age or service limit of 60 and 35 years respectively. After all the essence of having a deputy or a vice in all human endeavors is for the person playing that role to take over from the head of the office when he/she retires. God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.
By: KYRIAN UGWUDIKE AGBO, MBA.
Chairman, Concerned Citizens of Nigeria. Netherlands.
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| Comments | Post your comment |
your analysis is okay and fantastic.you forget to mentio that onovo is one of the best brain in the nIgeria police today..The Nsukka product exhibits the most sound and original dacademic recordd even tas far as First degree is concerned, Ipromise to spread this matrial for use in our local newspapers at your credit.
luk2000yahoo,com
Commented by: Lukkey Abawuru
on: Monday, May 18, 2009 17:57
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The hierarchical policy of the Nigerian Police in relation to the appointment of IG's is flawed. You have lauded the achievements of Onovo, but what if it was the opposite? What if he was largely incompetent? Are you saying that the criteria for the appointment of IG's should only be based on hierarchy, notwithstanding that there is a more competent person at a lower rank?
This might be an indication of the reason why the Nigerian Police is plagued with corruption; it would appear that police officers would just wait their turn to get to the ultimate position of power and loot with impunity.
Commented by: Ola
on: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 17:26
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Yes it is very true that Mr. Onovo have performed very well in the history of the Nigerian Police but the fact remains that their are even better officers whom i believe the entire Ngeria and the Nigerian Police know is a better officer but for some reasons, the police hiearachy try to subdue him. This young and elegant officer in the person of Mr. Declan S Uzoma remains one of the best officers ever produced by the Nigerian Police force. Mr. Uzoma is the course mate of Mr. Ogbonna Onovo and Mr. Mike Okiro as both officers enlisted into the force same date. He has held several admin positions and have been commissioners in Yobe State, Ondo State, Interpol and Police detetctive college Enugu. He has also been AIG in zones 3 and 4 until his promotion to the rank of DIG. Mr. Uzoma who is a graduate of French from UNN and also who is a lawyer have several achievement and good track record in the Nigerian Police Force. When i interviewed d ranks and file of the police, everyone wanted him to be the next IG. I advice that in as much as seniority is put in place in considering the next IG, the choice of officers and men of the police especially the ranks and file should be put in place aswell.
Commented by: Ahmed Ibrahim
on: Thursday, June 11, 2009 21:09
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I totall agree with Ahmed as it seems he has been following the affairs of the Nigerian Police Force. I am a woman police officer with the Nigerian Police force and i currently an assistant supretendent of police. We the Junior police officer are aware that some senior police officer as been favored in terms of postings and publicity but no matter wht happens, we all want Mr. Declan Uzoma to become the next IG as we strongly believe that his silent achievement in the Nigerian Police force speaks so loud and he is a noble Ngerian who has got a large heart and Nigerian at heart as well. Until this Mr. Declan Uzoma becomes the IG, we will never get the kind of Nigerian Police for we ever dreamt about.
Commented by: Grace Okonkwo
on: Thursday, June 11, 2009 21:17
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NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NIGERIAN POLICE,WE STILL KNOW WHO AMONGST THE SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS THAT CAN RESTORE THE GLORY OF THE FORCE BACK AND IT IS ONLY MR DECLAN UZOMA WHO CAN.WE ALL KNOW THAT NOTHING IS HIIDEN UNDER THE SUN AND SO LET SIR OKIRO NOT HIDE AWAY FROM THE TRUTH.MR UZOMA IS AND WILL REMAIN THE BEST POLICE OFFICER WE ALL HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.MAY GOD BLESS HIM FOR US NIGERIANS.WHEN I MEAN HE IS GOOD,HE IS AND CAN RETORE BACK THE FALLEN GLORY OF OUR NIGERIAN POLICE.LETS ALL PRAY TOWARDS HIS APPOINTMENT!!!
Commented by: LAWAL AUDU
on: Friday, June 19, 2009 15:14
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Infact i'm so much overwhelmed by everyones comment about this Mr Declan Uzoma who is truely the best senior police officer but due to the politics in the NPF has never gotten a good posting but nevertheless,i strongly advice mr president and sir mike okiro to choose a man that wil serve and restore the glory of NPF back.lets forget about sentiments and the hierachy.God bless this Mr Declan Uzoma and also mr president as he considers the voice of the people.
Commented by: Genevieve Joe Ohakwe
on: Friday, July 03, 2009 20:09
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