IGP’s Sack Okay, But Do More …Nigerians Tell Jonathan

In what has been perceived even by skeptics as President Goodluck Jonathan’s boldest step yet in the war against terror, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Hafiz Ringim was last Monday sacked by the   Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The IGP’s woes stemmed from the inexplicable escape from police custody of the alleged mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of a church at Madalla, Niger State.

President  Jonathan had given the IGP a 48-hour deadline within which to produce the escapee Boko Haram suspect. For  that presidential order, the police high command last  Thursday placed a ransom of N50million on the fundamentalist Islamic  group member, Mallam Kabiru Umar Sokoto.

But in what came to many as a shock, President Jonathan not only sent the IGP packing, all DIGs were sent on compulsory leave.

In one of our series of public opinion, The Tide posted the question: was it morally right for President Jonathan to sack  the IGP and others of the police high command over the escape of a detainee from a police station in the North?

In Port Harcourt, John Bibor and Beemene Taneh, Yenagoa, Fyneface Aaron, Abuja, Nneka Isiwu-Amaechi, Calabar, Friday Nwabara, Asaba, Albert Ograka and Lagos, Nkpemdeye McDominic, The Tide reporters compiled the following reactions from Nigerians.

Elder Blessing Agama, Rights Activist: President Jonathan must have acted to please the Nigerian masses who were visibly enraged by the escape of such high profile terror suspect. But I expected the IGP to resign earlier and not wait to be disgraced out of office.

Elsewhere, IGP Ringim would have resigned next day, if not same day after the suspect’s escape.

However, the IGP’s level of culpability ought to have  been established because it is his fundamental right to be heard.

Amglad Imabibo Esq, Solicitor and Advocate: President Jonathan has shown he means business in his avowed battle against terror masterminds, called Boko Haram. It is better late than never.

However, this is just an aspect of a larger corruption battle the President must confront. For instance, why is it difficult to unmask the petroleum subsidy cabal and their NNPC collaborators?

What Nigerians are asking is for the President and his economic team to visit the petroleum sector with similar proactive executive fiat.

Longinus Gad, Civil Servant: Nigerians are beginning to see the real Goodluck Jonathan, patient, focused and zero-tolerant to corruption.

When will the President unmask key sponsors of the Boko Haram sect? I believe that unless the head of the snake is smashed, all other attempts would amount to scratching the surface. But it’s a good start.

Barr Kio Daketima Gabriel: The President’s decision is perfectly justified in the circumstances in which the nation finds itself in terms of gross insecurity which is unheard of in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. The Inspector General has not shown that the police as an institution is on top of the  situation, with the escape of the Boko Haram leader in the custody of a police man. The Inspector General inevitably becomes the first suspect.

Chris Eze, Journalist, Secretary, Federated Correspondent Chapel, Rivers State chapter: The sacking of the IG is long  overdue, especially as the police has shown complicity in the escape of the Boko Haram suspect through their unsatisfactory explanation to Nigerians. The new acting IGP, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar should sanitise the rank and file of the police and rid it of internal rot which has worsened the security system in the country.

Enale Kodu, Journalist, Chairman  NAWOJ, Rivers State chapter: The decision of the President is commendable, the former IG has failed Nigerians as the police helmsman. The security situation in the country has worsened under his watch and Nigerians no longer have confidence in him as the head of the police. The President should be vigilant enough to fish out those  that are sabotaging the security system.

Dr Sofiri Peterside, A Lecturer: It is a step in the right direction. A clog in the wheel of progress of the war against terror must be eliminated. The time for cleansing of all bad elements in the  police force has come. The new Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar must carry out  a sweeping exercise of all corrupt elements from the force.

Apostle Eugene Ogu, A Cleric: The exercise is  welcome, it is, however, coming too late. Ringim should have been sacked the very day the force headquarters was bombed.

The same action should be carried out in all security agencies.

Alhaji Musa Saidu, Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, South-South: The police has no magical power to check Boko Haram. They need the confidence of the people to work.

The removal of Hafiz Ringim is not the solution to the crisis.

Chief Sunnie Chukumelie, A Politician: The solution to the Boko Haram crisis lies with politicians. The police all over the world has never combated terrorism.

Soye Jamabo

From left: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,Vice-President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday