LEADER of South-East, South-South and South West have condemned what they see as a pattern in the Nigeria Police Force whereby a junior officer is appointed to act as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), forcing more senior officers, especially southerners into premature retirement.

Emerging from an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the leaders which met under Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, the said they were dismayed over the development which comes with the appointment of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, as the acting IGP by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting said: “With respect to the now vacant position of the Inspector General of Police, we express concern and dismay that the pattern of appointments which in this case has resulted in the appointment of a relatively junior officer as acting Inspector General of Police has further caused cleansing in the top hierarchy of the Police Force especially with officers from the Southern parts of the country.”

In the statement read by the spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, the elders also rejected what the said is the current assault on the person and office of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, describing it as “unprecedented, unacceptable and condemnable act which has already done severe damage to the judicial arm of Government.”

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The statement added: “It is clearly evident that the rule of law and due process have been totally ignored as Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) makes full provisions for the appointment, career progression, and discipline of judicial officers which have been totally jettisoned in this case.

“The Federal Government should take immediate steps to bring this growing pattern of assault on the judiciary and other arms of Government to an immediate halt to prevent this country from further degenerating into chaos and anarchy and subjecting Nigeria to continued International ridicule and disrepute.”

On the coming elections, the elders demanded the immediate removal from office, of Mrs  Amina Zakari, “a niece of President Muhammadu Buhari who is a major contender in the elections.”

The statement maintained: “That non-removal of Mrs Zakari, whose tenure was renewed by President Buhari in 2015 casts doubts on the commitment of INEC and the Federal Government to conducting free, fair and credible elections.

“The INEC Rules must clearly distinguish and make provisions for Accreditation and Registration of Voters on the one hand and actual Conduct of Voting on the other.

“INEC must take immediate steps to rectify the current state of affairs whereby PVC collection in most of the states of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt are encumbered with great difficulties.

“That the Federal Government to cease from further acts that will impede or impugn on the credibility of the forthcoming elections.”

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