CDHR Applauds President Tinubu For Appointing DIG Kayode Egbetokun As IGP

… Sets Agenda For Acting IGP On Police Reforms To Enhance Efficiency

Ben Dunno, Warri

National President of Committee For Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade (Dr) Kehinde Prince Taiga, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the appointment of DIG Kayode Egbetokun, as Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), describing his choice as appropriate and timely in the ongoing efforts to re-positioning the force.

Similarly, he hailed the appointments of new Service Chiefs and National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as well as other security architecture, including the Customs, stating that with the new ideas of these high ranking military officers and individuals the issue of insecurity across the nation may likely be reduced to its nearest minimum.

Making his stand on the recent appointment known in a statement issued in Warri, Taiga, noted that the decision to appointment DIG Egbetokun, as the new police boss would not have come at any better time, considering his intimating profile both in operational and administrative capacity that distinguished him as a result-oriented officer.

While acknowledging some of the remarkable achievements made by the new IGP at various position held in the course of his career, CDHR President said Egbetokun, remains a round peg in a round hole for the job, as he displayed passion and commitment to duties, especially putting into consideration his vast experience on the field where he served deligently and meritoriously.

He however charged the new IGP to immediately commence the process of internal cleaning within the system as way of flushing out bad eggs who have consistently indulged themselves in corrupt practices and other related constitutional breaches that had constantly ridiculed the reputation of the police force in the society.

Comrade Taiga, who faulted the negative effects of “godfatherism” within the force, noted that the misconduct of most officers at Divisional level were carried out with impunity because majority of those involved, including the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) themselves, have somebody influential above they pay regular homage, thereby making them ‘untouchable’ even when they are culpable.

According to him, “I want to appeal to IGP Egbetokun, to as a matter of urgency put an end to “godfatherism” in the force, as the first step in realizing police reform. This has become very necessary as some officers how sees themselves as “untouchable” and can commit any crime and get away with it simply because they have a senior officer at the force headquarters they pay homage to protect them”.

“The new IGP must also make it a point of duty to ensure prompt discipline of any erring police officers whose case had been investigated and find to be guilty. It is pertinent that such disciplinary measures are made public to serve as deterrent to other officers who may want to carry out similar misconduct or crime at their various duty post”.

On the issue of insecurity, he urged the new IGP to take the issue of community policing more seriously and provide the needed enabling environment for the effectiveness of vigilantes to complement the efforts of the police, noting that a lot can be achieved in fighting criminals in any community when there is synergy between the police and the locals.

Taiga who stressed the need for IGP Egbetokun to see his appointment as a call to serve the people and not to be served, called on him to carry out routine visit to various police formations across the country to better understand their challenges, interms of manpower, logistics and weapons to carry out their policing duties and provide for them whatever is lacking to enhance their performance on the job.

On the issue of Security Votes, Comrade Taiga, charge the federal government to pass an Executive order compelling the state governors who have come to see security votes as conduit pipe to siphoning public funds, to channel such funds to assisting police at the various state Commands while the local government chairmen also funds the Divisional police units in their areas for more efficiency in protecting lives and property.

“Let me also use this medium to appeal to Acting IGP Egbetokun, to pay more attention to the synergy between the force and the civil society groups in the country, especially in the area of human rights abuse. This would no doubt enhance mutual trust and respect between the police and populace they are protecting”, he concluded.