By Lawrence Olaoye with agency report
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Nigerian governors have cautioned the recently confirmed Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, against police partisanship.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of his colleagues, at the end of a National Council of States meeting in Abuja, Tuesday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, advised Mr. Abba to always be fair and just while performing his responsibilities.
“I’m clear that the I-G must see Nigeria for what it is; it is a multi-party democracy; he must act according to the police law not according to the police convenience; these are my personal views,” said Mr. Oshiomhole.
Since he was appointed acting police chief, Mr. Abba has taken some steps that have drawn criticism and portrayed the police under his command as an appendage of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the presidency.
This week, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, issued a warning to him over the series of “illegal policing” that have continued under his watch.
In a letter to the police boss recently, Mr. Falana said he would head to court to challenge Mr. Abba’s competence if the police failed to desist from their involvement in partisan politics.
Abba was appointed in an acting capacity last July following the retirement of the previous Inspector-General, Mohammed Abubakar.
Falana said that by subjecting Tambuwal to selective persecution on the grounds that he decamped from the ruling party, the police violated his fundamental right to freedom from discrimination.
“As you are no doubt aware, it is a breach of section 42 (1) of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to subject any citizen of Nigeria of a political opinion to disabilities, deprivation and restrictions to which other citizens who hold alternative views or opinions are not made subject.
“Since the security details of other Speakers who decamped from the APC and LP to the PDP have not been withdrawn those of Honourable Tambuwal were illegally withdrawn. They ought to be restored without any further delay.”
Falana also urged the police boss to resign if he is not prepared to discharge his constitutional responsibilities without fear or favour.
