Newly appointed Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu has vowed to restore the dwindling primacy of the Nigerian Police Force withing the internal security architecture of the country.
Expressing disappointment over the present state of the Nigeria Police Force, he said the NPF is blessed with some of the finest officers anywhere in the world that are not only intellectually gifted and exceptionally dedicated, but professionally sound enough to surmount any task if the right leadership is provided.
Speaking during the handing and taking over ceremony in Abuja between his predecessor, Ibrahim Idris and himself at Force headquarters, he warned police personnel against engaging in conducts capable of not only ruining the image of the Force but also put their careers in jeopardy.
Adamu said that a mass redeployment of personnel of the police would be affected in the coming days.
Noting that, “commanding the largest police force in Africa, particularly,at this crucial time that the country is faced with multi-faceted security challenges and at the peak of preparations for the general elections” is an ardous task, he said, “Amongst you seated in this hall today are some thorough-bred and passionate professionals who can hold their own among their peers,and have consistently distinguished themselves in complex national and international engagements.
“All that you desire, from my experience, is a transparent, responsive, motivational, accountable and knowledgeable leader who will not only treat you with the dignity you deserve in your line of duty,but who is sensitive to your welfare needs and fair in manner your promotion and other reward regimes are addressed.”
Furthermore he said, “It is my firm conviction, therefore, that if the quality personnel potentials of the Force are blended with purposeful and motivational leadership at strategic levels within the organizational hierarchy of the Force,the lost glory of the Nigeria Police Force which remains a concern to governments at all levels, citizens,human rights groups,the international community and indeed wellmeaning officers and men of the Force shall be restored.
“With my appointment and assumption of duty,I am determined to draw on my national and international policing leadership experience to bridge this missing link.
“I assure you on this day that I will provide the highest possible level of professional and responsible leadership for you while trusting that you shall march hand-in-hand with me as dependable professional colleagues,to advance the fortunes of the Force.”
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“I demand that you you henceforth resolve to abstain from conducts that will drag the police into disrepute and put your career in jeopardy,and join me in the common course of changing the narrative of policing in the country for good. In giving effect to this,in the coming days,I shall unfold before you and the nation the stategic focus of my leadership..”
He reminded police personel that aside their routine operations,they have within the short term,two major national assignments where their their “professionalism and commitment to duty will once again be subjected to national and international scrutiny.
“First, is the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 16th February,2019 and second, is the Governorship,State Assembly,and Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections on Saturday,2nd March,2019.
“These national engagements are of immediate priority to my leadership and,hence,in the next few days,the nation shall witness concerted police deployments and other activities which will all be directed at ensuring quality election security services l delivery by the police, being the lead agency in election security management.
“While with your support,I am confident that we have the operational capacity to ensure the success of both exercises,I am not aware of the possible security threats that some misguided political actors and their followers may attempt to pose during the general elections.
“To such elements, I must sound a note of warning that as a nation,we have had enough of electoral violence. Hence, while the Nigeria Police under my watch shall work with the Independent National Electoral Commission and sister security agencies in guaranteeing a peaceful and secure space for all political parties and the citizens to freely exercise their electoral rights,we shall not hesitate to identify,isolate and bring to deserved justice any person or group that attempt to threaten our sacred democratic order,”h said.
The acting IGP added:” To the unrepentant felons that may wish to put our common will to test,the message is being relayed here loud and clear that in securing the law abiding citizens during the elections,we shall not hesitate to deploy our potent assests to deal firmly and decisively with electoral deviants.”
“Consequently, I call on political actors to assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in sustaining the gains recorded in our democratic journey.
“They should always remember that politics is a game guided by rules and it behooves them to play the game within the dictates of such rules.
“On our part,we assure the nation of our determination to play our roles fairly but firmly towards guaranteeing a peaceful electoral process and a credible outcome,”he said.
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