Political appointments in Nigeria often bring out either the humane part of the appointee or the monster aspect of the appointee. The monster spirit in this instance is simply referring to characters that does not augur well for positive administration. Such spirits that exudes arrogance, corrupt tendencies, inhuman attitudes and other intolerable vices. However, there are appointees whose main objective is to loot public funds they superintend over and are clog in the wheel of progress in their organization. While there are those whose character are source of emulation and exemplary. One of such security icon is Dr Solomon Arase, the former lnspector General of police. Since his appointment and swearing into office as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, on 29th of March , 2023 as the Chairman of the octopus police service commission (PSC) Dr Arase has relentlessly used the necessary tools of wisdom to calm frayed nerves and policy misunderstanding between the leadership of the Nigeria police force and the police service commission, and has further helped to reposition the police service commission . Let’s recall a piece titled “Burying the hatchet,” published on this column, 27th, January 2023. Wherein l explained the intractable misunderstanding between both security institutions thus, “The security war” between the two foremost security institutions in the country, the Nigerian police force and its supervising commission, ( Police service commission), both are constitutionally established to co-exist for administrative and operational convenience. Unfortunately, in 2000 the existing relationship got ruptured sequel to male administrative lapses and misinterpretation of the law emanating from the office of the lnspector General of Police who stepped down an existing robust relationship. Before this time, the Chairman of the PSC was very free to pay courtesy visit to the lGP for consultation and Vice versa.
The Cold War started when the police headquarters subtlely obtained the recruitment list only to surepteously doctored the list by injecting names which later created more furor among the two institutions. The police wanted to be fully in charge of every recruitment exercise thereby arrogating an unknown power to itself consequently ignoring an existing constitutional mandate that reposed the authority to recruit on the Police Service Commission. Despite concerned intervention of elder security statesmen like former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, Tafa Balogun and Gambo Jimeta (now late), to profer lasting solution to the furero, were jestitioned by lGP Adamu Muhammadu did not save the situation. As lGP Adamu stuck to his gun and later met his Waterloo as the court ruled in favour of the commission. Even at that, the bad blood already injected into the system continued to erode the relationship between the commission and the police headquarters. This resulted in the demonstration by staffers of the commission.”
Impressively, Arase used the tools of wisdom to unite the warring institutions and also redirected their blurred vision to a better understanding of the constitutional mandate of the commission and the Nigeria police force who used to be on the edge each time there is recruitment.
That he was able to quell every confrontation and every disputable policy, especially where such policy touches on the sensitive issue of recruitment and even promotion.
Wisdom is a virtue from above and only leaders endued with natural humility that can deploy this trait in any official administrative or operational dispute resolution. According to Ralph Waldo Emerson an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, he said Wisdom is “to see the miraculous in the common.”
Interestingly an example is the case in the holy book where King Solomon the son of King David was confronted with a family dispute between two women who were entangled with a knotty problem over cannibalistic tendency. It was Solomon Arase’s futuristic approach to leadership like his biblical namesake who knew the importance of a befitting structure for the children of lsrael to worship their God, so Arase completed the six storey building edifice of the police service commission situated in Jabi area council of Abuja whose foundation was laid by former Chairman Mr Parry Osayande twelve years ago, but Arase completed and moved the over three hundred staffers of the police service commission to have integrity and conducive atmosphere to proudly carry out their administrative and operational duties. Truely, Arase has done well. Today, there is a symbiotic relationship between the police family and the police service commission. Both the lnSpector General of police Mr Kayode Egbetokun and Solomon Arase know they are working for the same purpose and not at daggers drawn. They understand that both institution are like Siemens-twins bonded by the same biblical cord that emanates from the womb of Nigeria constitution. The duo understand the basis to swim in the same ocean of understanding.
Since he assumed office as the chairman, he has been able to correct all the teething problems that had over the years been causing hiccup and misunderstanding between the police hierarchy and the leadership of the Nigeria police force. Instead of using the arm of flesh to resolve the nagging administrative problem he resorted to employing the Solomonistic wisdom.
Today both the Nigerian police force and the police service commission jointly held a visibly transparent and very successful police recruitment exercise completely devoid of any hiccup or misunderstanding across the country.
So far Arase has been able to
1. Has been able redefine Policing in a complex society like Nigeria .
2. He Has also been able to secure the PSC approval for a Policy on gender balance in the appointment and Posting of DCPs, CPs, and AIGs. Added to these, is the formulation of a Policy on fair and equitable representation in the appointment and postings of CPs to state Commands, DCPs, and Tactical Commanders that will reflect federal character.
3. He Has also ensured that Disciplinary Matters are given urgent attention so that offenders are punished and those not found wanting are free to continue with their career progression.
4. Above all is the special attention given to Police Promotions, which according to him would be regular and be based on seniority, availability of vacancy and on merit.
———————————-
Congratulations
SECURITY FILE Wishes to congratulate Dasuki Galadanchi the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) incharge of zone 12, Bauchi zonal command.
He was recently promoted to the enviable rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).
An avid reader of Security File, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi is an indigene of Kano State. He is one of the police experts in community policing program.
A thorough bred police officer whose vast knowledge In community policing has impacted many police officers including this writer. We pray that the police hierarchy would make good use of such knowledgeable officer in the new fight against bandits and terrorists across the country.