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Tuesday, 02 December, 2008 01:41 am
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| Re: Insecurity: Yar'Adua Invites Britain to Assist Police |
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| Monday, 10 December 2007 | ||||||
     Executive President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Aso Rock Villa, Asokoro District, Abuja. Attention: President Umaru Musa Yar?Adua Dear Sir, RE: INSECURITY: YAR'ADUA INVITES BRITAIN TO ASSIST POLICE Usually, when man has the assurance of having a guaranteed secured environment, it avails him/her the freedom (or protection from danger) to go about and sort out the affairs of his/her wellbeing. Without which, he/she will perpetually be living under panic. This issue of security has made nations to invest so much into it, if not for anything, to attract prospective investors and besides, measures are supposed to be in place (taken), to guarantee the safety of a country and its citizenry. However, the level of insecurity in Nigeria has become a nightmare and it is unfortunate that the measures being adopted by government is not helping the system one bit. Recent reports from daily tabloids have it that the Federal Government of Nigeria has asked the British Government to assist it in restructuring the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). The request which was made by President Umaru Yar'Adua, during the just concluded Commonwealth Heads o f Government Meeting in Uganda, explained that the President (in a discussion with the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown) would appreciate any support the British government could give the country in the matter of improving the security services in the country. "So, against that background, Mr. President is looking at the Police Force as the point element in the security services," explained the Minister of interior, Maj-Gen Godwin Abbe (rtd), in the reports. But however good the intentions of Government might appear, it is not the solution that will improve the Nigerian Police Force. This will make meaning when we take into consideration, some salient points that if not addressed appropriately, will make no sense (or be of no relevance) of government?s intentions. Let us look at the Nigerian police critically and be honest with ourselves, there is no police officer that can truthfully say that he/she is living on his/her honest income/salary (apart from the Shell police), to see one is like looking for 'a needle in haystack'. The average police officer (be it any rank/file), is largely dependent on bribery, bail money, extortion of money from road users (on check points, tinted glass cars, motorcyclists (Okada riders), 'roger', tip, etc), across the length and breadth of this country. Recently, we hear the Nigerian Police in some areas have adopted another strategy of extortion and human rights abuse, by parading a bus on the road (in pretence of carrying passengers going to a particular direction), and after loading the vehicle (without their uniform) carry the unsuspecting passengers straight to their police stations, and put them behind the counter, with claims that the 'supposed' passengers are 'wandering' at night and therefore, suspicious of crime. An instance of a woman coming back from her village but was unfortunate to have fallen for this trap, narrated her ordeal in the hands of these 'Police officers-turned criminals'. With this kind of development, what sort of supposed training can you give to a police officer, whose mind has deteriorated to conceive such an evil act? From the highest ranking officer to the police recruit, the bribe issue has been made official, somewhat 'legalised' and has become the norm in the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). There have been cases, which we have learnt, where the money collected on road checkpoints by police officers are sent to the commissioner of Police (a specified percentage of the entire loot) and even the Assistant Inspector Generals (AIGs) and Inspector General (IG). Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, and how he milked the nation dry through the NPF. The bottom line is that our police force are not lacking the basic training that is required to make them function reasonably well, the problem with our police force is corruption, and it has eaten deep into the 'bone marrow' of the system that it will only take a total transformation, an overhaul to revive and improve the security Force. We are in no doubt that if you take the average policeman to any part of the world, that he would perform accordingly. A policeman trained locally in Nigeria may even perform better in the United Kingdom (UK). What is really required in the Nigerian Police Force is a thorough anticorruption crusade to cleanse the already bad image of the system. Another aspect that is quite bugging is the fact that the budgeted capital that is meant to uplift the 'image' of the Police Force is not judiciously expended. Apart from the fact that the police system lacks the necessary 'gadgets' (weapons, vehicles and communication devices), the money allocated for their upkeep is nothing to write home about. The way they dress and look sometimes makes one to find it difficult to differentiate them from rogues. Nigerians cannot actually say or explain the exact colour of the 'police uniform', you sometimes see some colours different from one another (black, navy blue, faded black, etc), probably the only reasonable explanation is that they make these uniforms themselves (that means, they buy the materials and take them to their tailors to be sown). With their (sometimes) tartared and dirty uniforms, they patrol the streets, all looking so unkempt (sometimes with slippers) and out of place. It makes one wonder what is happening with their welfare in the system. This pathetic situation has ultimately contributed to the high level of corruption amongst and within the Nigerian Police Force. Rather than ensure law and order, they engage in all sorts of unwholesome acts, from illegal detention, non-compliance to court orders, abuse of power, human rights abuse and extortion to killing of innocent 'bike riders' (especially), in the name of 'roger me 20/50 or no passage', trigger hungry policemen. It is an absolute shame to the nation! The rate of corruption portrayed by our political office leaders, have made the Nigerian Police to throw caution into the air, and rip-off with impunity, every available (established) they get to see money. How can they avoid the temptation, when our 'supposed public servants' are not helping matters, some of them (especially the mobile police) have been turned to personal body guards with a guaranteed fat pocket money. They know that all these things are bad, but they cannot help it. But whatever the case may be, law and order must be upheld, it cannot be compromised for selfish gains, otherwise we will have a chaotic environment. Another recent report from one of the dailies explains a shake-up that is imminent in the police. That three (3) Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) and ten (10) Commissioners of Police (CPs) will be affected. The DIGs include: Yakubu Mohammed, Bukar Dakira, and Abdulrahmman Yusuf, will proceed on retirement while Mohammed Abubakar, the present CP in Lagos state, Udom Ekpoudom, the present CP, Oyo State (who was first rejected in Lagos state but has now found his way to Oyo State, and was former CP in Delta state, where he left an unbreakable record as the most corrupt CP that ever served in Delta State), and Murktar Abbas, Chime Richard and others are to be promoted to AIG. While we acknowledge the shake-up, we are very uncomfortable with Udom Ekpoudom's promotion, because he will no doubt raise the level of corruption in the area where he will be. Also, about four (4) CPs will be promoted to the rank of AIG. However, we wonder what kind of criteria that is used to make these promotions, if the likes of the Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Ekpoudom is selected. If Nigeria really wants to improve the image of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), then there has to be a total transformation, like we mentioned before, starting with the Leadership. The bad image (already in the minds of Nigerians about the police) can be attributed to, or as a result of lack of integrity and credibility within the leadership framework. Usually, the integrity of a child is determined by the parents (the father as the head), so, if the head is corrupt minded, no integrity, chances are that the children will follow his footsteps. Therefore, the only thing that can bring back or change the image of the police is to have good leadership at all levels of the Force, and not inviting foreign bodies to restructure the system. The truth is, no amount of training (expertise), be it locally done or abroad, can turn things around. Whatever training they get, to be upright will be difficult, because they are used to the returns they get. Imagine situations where we have close to 150 checkpoints between Lagos route to Benin, Warri and Port-Harcourt. Not that they are there to checkmate armed robbery, but to extort money from private motorists and transporters (with the disguise of checking particulars for stolen vehicles). To explain further the assumed status of the Nigerian Police on corruption and why it is predominant in the Force, especially from the top. Is a statement made by the Rivers state Police Commissioner, Felix Ogbaudu, in an interview with one of the daily tabloids said "The policeman because what we have (him being part of the system) is what we can afford does what he keeps on doing". He went on to substantiate that "as long as you pay peanuts so long will you continue to recruit the dregs of society to do police work, that people who talk of extortion in the Police are just deceiving themselves. With this sort of remarks, the commissioner is actually encouraging the corrupt trend in the Police. Coming from a man who said he is from a Christian background, one would have expected him to explain that in every organization (like the police) there are bound to be bad eggs which gives the public the impression that such an organization is corrupt. And not to justify claims that as a result of poor funding and the high level of corruption from our political leaders, therefore, the police should not be blamed for following suite. What then is the hope of its efforts to revive the system/polity? The police require great funding, that does not give them the bearing to engage in such callous corrupt attributes of even extorting money from commercial drivers they are better than. It's quite a disappointment! It is time the Federal Government (take the bull by the horn), appoints civilians as IGs AIGs, DIGs, and CPs, people of proven integrity, credibility and with the 'passion' to rid-off corruption in the NPF. For example people like Dora Akunyili, Charles Soludo, Nuhu Ribadu (not because he is a policeman) and many others. These characters have distinguished themselves in their various positions and endeavours, for someone like Nuhu Ribadu, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission)) boss, it will be almost impossible to buy one's way out of the net of his men. The same can be said of NAFDAC (National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control) boss, Dora Akunyili and her team. Most of the men/women enlisted in the Police are there to steal, cause more confusion and portray the image of Police in a bad light. The system (Police) needs to be cleansed from the top. Passion for excellence has a way of rubbing off a people, especially when it starts from the head. That is what is making the people mentioned above to excel greatly. People must have passion for what they do for positive results to come forth; there are no two ways about it. Engaging the services of any foreign security force will be a waste of resources that can be used to better the lot of the Police (because whatever assistance we might get from the British government will not be free). While we urge for this total transformation, the Police leadership positions should not be replaced with former Police officers be it at any level. These positions should be occupied solely by credible civilians for at least for a ten-year period, after which the system will be reverted back to its usual state, that is if they turn a new leaf (the relieved officers). This is the best solution that has the propensity to improve the NPF; no training will change them unless we adopt a new strategy. This is our stand. Zik Gbemre National Coordinator NIGER-DELTA PEACE COALITION  Quote this article on your site | Print | E-mail
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