AS pressure mounts for President Muhammadu Buhari to replace the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, the president says he would soon take action on the fate of the police chief.
There have been controversies surrounding the retirement of Inspector-General of Police.
“I saw on the television, somebody has given me last warning to…I have accepted responsibility, I don’t think I am afraid of him and I don’t think I have organised roadblocks and got collections from it to say that I will lose some part of my revenue from him,” President Buhari said while speaking to ThisDay/Arise TV interview panel
“I will take action,” he added.
The president also took responsibility for not changing his military and security chiefs since 2015.
The recent waves of attacks on military formations in the Northeast by terrorists have brought him under criticisms and particularly his inaction on the police IG’s retirement and relieving the service chiefs of their appointments.
According to public service laws, the occupant of the office of the Inspector-General of Police is to retire after spending the mandatory 35 years in service or attaining 60 years of age.
Idris is expected to retire from service after reaching the mandatory 35 years in service this month.
On Monday, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), a group of opposition political parties, threatened a mass protest on January 15 if Idris is not retired.
In reaction to this and other calls for action, Buhari said he was not “afraid” of the police boss, and that he would take action.
Responding to questions on why he has not changed service chiefs, Buhari said he is waiting for the ‘appropriate time’ as making changes during emergency would be counterproductive.
“I am measuring the options critically. When you have a case of emergency, if you don’t wait for an appropriate time to do it, then you create competition within the service,” he said.
“There are so many ambitious people waiting, only one man can be Chief of Army Staff in the army, only one man can be the Inspector-General of Police. Don’t forget that it was this administration that appointed all the three.
“I didn’t know them on personal basis. I followed records and thought I picked the best then. Of course, their performance may be disappointing but I accept responsibility for not changing them. My reason is based on my own experience.”