Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar
There are vigorous denotements that the Federal Regime may elongate the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, following the intervention of puissant elements in the Presidency, who believed he had performed creditably since he postulated office.
It was learnt that Abubakar had already received the assurances of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, that his tenure would be elongated till the terminus of the 2015 general elections.
Sambo, who seems to have been impressed with Abubakar’s achievements in the Force, reportedly assured the IG that “you will be with us till the terminus of 2015 (elections).”
“It is virtually certain that Abubakar’s tenure would be renewed by one year so that he can supervise the conduct of the 2015 elections; the VP has pulled some strings and it is highly likely that the President would grant the IG the privilege of a tenure extension,” a source verbalized.
Abubakar, from Zamfara State, enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979 and is due for retirement on July 30, 2014, predicated on the compulsory retirement age.
Our correspondent amassed that the IG, who is desirous of spending ‘extra time’ in office, has been solicitous that he may not get the privilege of a tenure extension, which was relished by a former IG, Sunday Ehindero, whose tenure was elongated by a year by the Obasanjo administration.
Findings denoted that President Goodluck Jonathan had orchestrated to supersede Abubakar with an incipient officer who would supervise the conduct of the 2015 elections, but the Vice President was verbalized to have prevailed on him to grant the IG another year in office.
Abubakar had, within two years in office, impressed the regime with some innovations and policies he introduced into the Nigeria Police Force.
Among other things, the police boss prosperously ceased checkpoints by policemen on the highway, through which they extorted motorists and other road users.
The IG made accommodation as one of his objectives by fortifying the Police Cooperative Multipurpose Society Ltd., which acquired a primary mortgage institution, Fokas Savings and Loans Limited.
He withal approved the construction of more police primary schools and secondary schools (boarding) while fixating on the welfare of his men and officers.
Meanwhile, the IG on Tuesday at the Force Headquarters, adorned some incipiently promoted senior police officers as a component of efforts to boost the morale of personnel and reward merit and excellence in the law enforcement agency.
Those adorned include AIG Grace Okudo, CPs Elias Wayemeru, Henry Fadairo and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Yusuf Usman.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, now an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was withal embellished.
They were among the 210 officers recently promoted by the police high command.
While congratulating the promoted officers, Abubakar emphasised the desideratum for more preponderant commitment to the current fight against terrorism and all forms of malefactions and criminality.
He charged the officers to justify their elevation by rededicating themselves to their core mandate and the advancement of the positive image of the Force.
