ABUJA — THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr
Suleiman Abba, yesterday, became the first major
casualty of the just concluded general elections,
which President Goodluck Jonathan and his party,
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost to the
opposition.
The police officer, who was elevated to the post only
last year, incurred the wrath of the Presidency on
the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly
elections for allegedly arguing with the government
officials over the directive to recall the Assistant
Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 6,
Tunde Ogunshakin, from Rivers State
DIG Solomon Arase replaces Suleiman Abba as
Inspector General of Police
By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North & Kingsley
Omonobi
ABUJA — THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr
Suleiman Abba, yesterday, became the first major
casualty of the just concluded general elections,
which President Goodluck Jonathan and his party,
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost to the
opposition.
The police officer, who was elevated to the post only
last year, incurred the wrath of the Presidency on
the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly
elections for allegedly arguing with the government
officials over the directive to recall the Assistant
Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 6,
Tunde Ogunshakin, from Rivers State.
Abba, it was learnt, had deployed Ogunshakin from
his base in Calabar to Port Harcourt to oversee the
governorship election in Rivers State following
complaints by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers
State, that the police had collaborated with the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
and the PDP to intimidate APC members and rig the
presidential and National Assembly elections in the
state.
His refusal to pick calls over Ogunshakin’s recall
Another source said the former police boss
reportedly ignored presidency official’s objection to
the deployment of Ogunshakin to Rivers State on the
allegation that the police officer was sympathetic to
Amaechi and his party and would, therefore, not
allow the PDP win the state.
A Presidency source told Vanguard that on learning
that the IG had defied its order by redeploying
Ogunshakin to Rivers State to supervise the
governorship elections. A presidency official called
the former police boss to recall the AIG with
immediate effect from Rivers State or face the
consequences.
The source said the presidency felt slighted when it
could not get through to Abba.
The former police boss reportedly to the Presidency
that AIG Ogunshakin was a formidable Police officer
whom he described as a ‘no-nonsense officer’
feared and respected in the Police Force hierarchy
and capable of ensuring law and order in the place
of new assignment.
Vanguard learnt that although the sacked IG
reluctantly recalled Ogunshakin from Rivers State,
forcing him to quit Port Harcourt by 5 am on the
election day, Presidency did not forgive Abba for
redeploying Ogunshakin reluctantly.
Presence at Buhari’s certificate of return
presentation
Another sin of the former IG was his presence at
the presentation of the Certificate of Return to
Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference
Centre on April 1, 2015, which convinced the
Presidency that the IG was actually working for the
opposition and it moved quickly against him.
Arase replaces Abba
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on
Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, could not also be
reached for comments on the development.
Abba’s sack was announced by the president’s
spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement
yesterday. No reason was given for the sack while
a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon
Arase, was appointed to act in his stead.
Abati’s statement read in full: “President Goodluck
Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of
Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, of his appointment and
duties with immediate effect.
“President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as
Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with
immediate effect.
“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement,
Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal
Intelligence and Investigation Department.
“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in
Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees in
Political Science and Strategic Studies.
“He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence
College.”
Mr. Abba, 56, became acting Inspector General on
August 1, 2014 following the retirement of his
predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, after 35 years
of public service.
He was confirmed substantive IGP on November 4,
2014.
Abba was, until that appointment, an Assistant
Inspector General, AIG, in charge of Zone 7
Command, a position he occupied since May 25,
2012.
He was also an Aide-De-Camp, ADC, to the
wife of a former military Head of State, Maryam
Abacha.
With his removal, Mr. Abba will proceed on forced
retirement, four years before he attains retirement
age.
He enlisted in the Nigeria Police as Cadet Inspector
on December 31, 1984 and is actually due for
retirement on March 22, 2019.
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