By Chizoba Ogbeche and Abdullahi M. Gulloma, Abuja, and Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado Ekiti
Perceived disloyalty to the Jonathan Administration, alleged infractions in the festering crisis rocking the Ekiti state House of Assembly, and leaning towards the Buhari campaign team were three major reasons for yesterday’s sudden removal of Mr. Sulaiman Abba as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan removed Abba and replaced him with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as acting IGP with immediate effect.
News of the sack that came barely six weeks to end of the current administration was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.
Abba, just nine months in office, was removed from office while he was playing host to the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle.
He told the ambassador that the success of the general elections was due to the civil, non-partisan and impartial disposition of officers and men of the Force.
Abati’s announcement of the sack through his Twitter handle did not give reason for the sudden development.
However, the development may not be unconnected to the ousted Police boss’ perceived disloyalty to the Jonathan administration during and after the general elections.
Significantly, Abba was reportedly taking orders from the Director of Security to the General Muhammadu Buhari presidential campaign organisation, General Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd).
He was also said to be instrumental to the brief detention of a serving minister on his way to the United Kingdom last week, as well as another serving female minister who suffered the same fate two weeks ago on her way to the UK.
Attributing the sack to the Ekiti state House of Assembly crisis, a source in the Presidency alleged that Abba had allowed some politicians to drag him into the crisis and used him to make it to fester.
The source explained: “The former IGP had been working in tandem with some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to fuel the crisis in Ekiti state against the wish of President Jonathan that peace must be maintained in all parts of the country after the elections.
“The removed Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, had gone to court to challenge his removal and the matter is still in court.
“When a matter is pending in court, the normal thing is for parties to get the matter sorted out there first before further actions are taken, but Omirin and his colleagues haven’t allowed this to happen in this case.”
According to the source, “This Ekiti Assembly crisis started anew and with sustained vigour after the result of the presidential election was announced, and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the president-elect.”
The source claimed that Jonathan had insisted that the rule of law must prevail in the matter but alleged that “it got clear that the former IGP had agreed to provide cover for the APC lawmakers to enter Ekiti state and go ahead with their impeachment plan.”
The protracted Ekiti Assembly crisis is also believed to have caused the sudden transfer of a former Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, who was moved just days to the governorship elections across the country.
Until his appointment, acting IGP Arase was the Head of the Police Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.
The new IGP is to officially resume office after a parade at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
A 1980 graduate of Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in
Law from the University of Benin and University of Lagos respectively.
He attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the bar in 2000.
He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.
He joined the Nigerian Police Force on December 1, 1981.
Arase had served in various commands and formations of the police. He was Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom state and was an Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Bureau.
He served at the UN Mission in Namibia.
The new IGP, who is due for retirement on June 21, 2016, is to officially resume office after a parade at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.