Buhari Urged to Pick Igbo IG as Idris Retires January

A rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider appointing a new Inspector General of Police (IG) from the South-east region as replacement for Ibrahim Idris.

The group in a statement signed by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and made available to journalists in Awka, stated that the current IG would retire on January 3, 2019.

He said: "It is authoritatively confirmed that the present IG, Idris, will statutorily or legally retire from the Nigeria Police Force on January 3, 2019.

"Owing to widespread allegations and reports of exclusion of the citizens of South-east region from several important federal, including top security appointments, the vacancy created by the retirement in three weeks’ time of Idris is now a major test case for thisn  administration."

The group argued that since the president and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), have constantly denied that they hate the Igbo, the retirement of the IG would be a good time to demonstrate so.

They also warned against attempt to keep the retiring IG beyond January 3, as such would be resisted.

"Any attempt to retain him or perpetuate him in office beyond his tenure is a clear invitation to anarchy and impeachment by the existing constitution.

"As his replacement, the presidency should pick among Igbo serving senior police officers especially those with at least two years to stay in the Force.

"From our checks, it is likely a great opportunity for Nigeria to have a first female IG in the person of recently promoted DIG Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, an Onitsha, Anambra State-born female DIG, married to northern husband.

"DIG Ibekwe joined the police force with appointment number AP25120 on February 1, 1986 and was born on April 7, 1963," it stated.

The group also listed some other senior police officers from Igbo extraction and their birth and recruitment dates, who could be considered for the job.

They include Boniface K. Onyeabor,  Celestine Okoye, John Ogbonnaya Amadi, Okoli C. Michael, Ngozi Vivian Onadeko, Joe Nwachukwu Enweonwu, Joseph O. Egbunike, Edward Chuka Egbuka and Josephine Ogechi Nna among others.