Meet Top 6 Police Chiefs In Battle To Succeed Arase As He Retires

Source: Leadership Newspaper

Intense lobbying and profiling of possible successor of the outgoing Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has commenced, with six top Police officers jostling for the number one cop position in the country

The incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase's will by June this year retire, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.

POLICE chiefs reportedly lobbying to replace Arase are; AIG Hassan Bala Abdulahi, AIG Johnson Ogunsakin, Olufemi Adebowale Adenaike, CP Austin Iwar, AIG Umar Abubakar Manko and Ibrahim Idris, Leadership Newspaper reports this morning.

The presidency, Leadership said deliberately allowed the IGP to complete his tenure by ignoring the option of sending him on terminal leave due to the impressive manner he was handling the high rate of insecurity in the country.

A dependable source revealed to LEADERSHIP Weekend that Arase’s retirement date draws closer, some senior police officers and prominent persons have started lobbying for themselves and on behalf of others.

It was however gathered reliably that the presidency is more disposed to picking Arese’s successor based on professionalism, competence and integrity, which is different from the old ways of mere favouritism, ethnicity and religious considerations.

Our source who preferred not be named in print said, “Although people have been lobbying for themselves and on behalf of others- one just left my office this afternoon- what I have told each of them is that the President is not somebody you go and talk to on such matters because he is a retired military Officer himself.

“He understands what is good and what destroys the service. I think the easiest thing this president can ever do is to choose the service chiefs. So, lobbying would not help anybody, in fact it will even destroy your case.

“I believe he will look at their antecedents, their records, qualification, competence and let me say this, nobody should lobby for anything because Buhari will not accept anybody he knows would not able to do the job. I cannot even speak to him , but if, he asks me, of course I would make an input, but ultimately it is going to be based on merit, competence, records of service, professionalism and integrity”, the source.

LEADERSHIP checks revealed that about four Assistant Inspectors General and two Commissioner of Police are in the line of succession as Solomon Arase bows out in June.

The contest for who succeeds the current Inspector General of Police is keen, as the lobbyists are said to be doing everything possible to ensure their candidates emerge the number one Police officer for the country.

It was also gathered that politicians, traditional rulers, business moguls as well as some past Inspectors General of Police have been enlisted in the various lobby camps.

AIG Hassan Bala Abdulahi: Born on August 25, 1959 in Nasarawa local government area in Kano State, AIG Abdulahi holds a degree in Chemistry from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1981), a Masters degree in Law from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and M.Sc, Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan and is currently Phd candidate in Policing and Community Safety, Abdulahi. He is currently the AIG in charge of Zone 2. He has held several positions, including Commissioner of Police Edo, Rivers and Abia states. He is also one-time commissioner in charge of Mobile Police Force at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Abdullah is expected to retire from service in December 2017.

AIG Johnson Ogunsakin: Born on August 1, 1957 from Ekiti, Ogunsakin is AIG in charge of zone 10. The former state was Commissioner of Police, Rivers State holds a degree in Political Science/History from the University of Ife (1980). He joined the force on December 8, 1982 and is also due for retirement on August 1, 2017. He has held various command positions, including Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, and head of operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC).

Olufemi Adebowale Adenaike: Born on December 3, 1958, Adenaike who hails from Ogun state joined the Police force on December 8, 1982. He is currently the AIG in charge of the Department of Training and Development at the Force Headquarters. He has held various positions, including Commissioner of police Kaduna State command and Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Has a degree in Sociology from the University of Lagos, Masters Degree in Sociology from the same university. He is due for retirement from service in December, 2017.

CP Austin Iwar:  He is the current commissioner of Police, Gombe State command and hails from Benue State. Before his elevation to his present position, he was  principal staff officer to former IGP Sulaiman Abba, where he was responsible for the strategic management and handling of complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously; assisting in the strategic planning and supervision of the implementation of NPF plans on behalf of the IGP; management of IGP’s schedules; secretary to IGP’s management meetings; management and leadership of IGP secretariat staff made up of senior officers with responsibilities for; Performance Management of the NPF; Police Reforms; Policy and Strategy; Intelligence Management; Investigation, Human Rights and Legal Issues; Strategic Communications; Intergovernmental Affairs; International Cooperation; This role also includes supervision of IGPs administrative staff; liaison with Senior Management Team. Iwar who is also a graduate of London Metropolitan University is presently a PhD candidate. What stands as an advantage for him despite being junior to the other contenders is that his state, Benue, has never produced IGP before. Besides, while the constitution says any senior officer can be made IGP, it does not specify a particular rank to be attained before qualifying for the police top job.

AIG Umar Abubakar Manko: Born on June 14, 1958, Manko who hails from Niger State was a one-time Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, and AIG in charge of zone 2, before he was moved to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. Manko who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Sokoto, enlisted into the police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on December 31, 1984. He has held several positions, including Commissioner of Police (administration), at the Police Academy, Kano; CP, Airport Command; CP, Kaduna and Sokoto states commands. Manko is due for retirement in June 2018.

CP Ibrahim Idris: Having obtained two academic degrees of law and agriculture at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Maiduguri, respectively, Idris had also attended numerous courses and trainings in Nigeria and abroad and partook in several peace keeping missions in many countries of the world. CP Idris started his police career in 1984 when he joined the force as Cadet ASP after which he was posted as Gusau Police Divisional Crime Officer in 1986 and later Unit Commander 7PMF Sokoto between 1987 and 1989. Owing to his excelling competence, unique performance, commitment to duty and doggedness, CP Idris was elevated to the rank of Deputy Police Commissioner Operations and Second in Command at the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste UNMIT between 2009 to April 2011 and again, Acting Police Commissioner UNMIT. In July of the same year he was appointed Kano State Commissioner of Police, a position he held until February 2013 when he was selected to attend Senior Police Officers Course at Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru (NIPSS) where he bagged the prestigious mni membership.

Lobby Intensifies As Buhari Shortlist 31 As Police IG, Arase's Replacement, See List of Contenders

Daily Sun - The tenure of the incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, would soon come to an end, having attained the mandatory age of 60 is no longer news. The news is who steps into his shoes when he bows out in June?

As Arase’s retirement date draws nearer, there is intense lobby among top police officers for the plum office. The lobbyists are busy, going from one place to another to convince their sponsors why they should be the ones to occupy the most exalted office in the police. Those involved in the hot chase are using every means to achieve their desires.

With the retirement of Arase, which will likely send home all the DIGs, who are also members of the police management team, it is expected that the president would appoint his next IGP from the rank of the AIGs except, of course, the president thinks otherwise. And to make their dreams come true, the contenders are not only consulting with the gods, but also with top politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders and those who they think have the ears of President Muhammadu Buhari, to make them IGP.

According to investigations, there are seven Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIG) and 24 Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs).

As the lobby continues, the drama is gradually assuming political, religious and tribal dimensions as some zones have vowed to ensure one of their own assumes the position.

While it was gathered that the profile of all the DIGs and AIGs have been forwarded to Buhari, observers are of the opinion that the president may disregard the list and go down the ladder to make a pick. This, sources say, is because some of the contenders have corruption cases hanging on their necks. It was gathered that security reports indicated that some of them might have soiled their hands in one form of corrupt practice, ranging from fraudulent acquisition of illegal property, certificate forgery and other messy deals in the course of their career.

Security sources told Daily Sun that the Presidency had forwarded names of the DIGs and AIGs to the relevant security agencies for proper investigations and advice on the 31 names.

The top contenders include Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG) Bala Hassan Abdulahi, Bala Magaji Nassarawa, Umar Abubakar Manko, Mbu Joseph Mbu, Olufemi Adebowale Adenaike and Johnson Ogunsakin.

The contenders

Umar Abubakar Manko

AIG Umar Abubakar Manko was a one-time Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, and AIG in charge of zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun states before he assumed his current position at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.

Born on June 14, 1958 in Bida Local Government Area, Niger State, Manko who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Sokoto, enlisted into the police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on December 31, 1984.

He has held several positions, including Commissioner of Police (administration), at the Police Academy, Kano; CP, Airport Command; CP, Kaduna and Sokoto states commands.

He is believed to have the backing of former Inspector General of Police, Musilu Smith and the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu. His sponsors, according to Daily Sun investigations, are working round the clock to ensure the prince from Nupe becomes the next IGP. They believe that with Manko as IGP, the much-desired change of the present administration would indeed affect the police. Manko is due for retirement in June 2018.

AIG Hassan Bala Abdulahi

Born on August 25, 1959 in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Kano State, AIG Abdulahi holds a degree in Chemistry from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1981), Masters degree in Law from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and M.Sc Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.

Abdulahi, who is currently the AIG in charge of Zone 2, has held several positions, including Commissioner of Police Edo, Rivers and Abia states. He is also one-time commissioner in charge of Mobile Police Force at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He is believed to enjoy the support of former Inspector General of Police and current chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro. Abdullah is expected to retire from service in December 2017.

Johnson Ogunsakin

AIG Johnson Ogunsakin, former Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, became a possible successor to Arase shortly after President Muhamadu Buhari was declared winner of the presidential elections in 2014.

Born on August 1, 1957 at Ikere, in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Ogunsakin holds a degree in Political Science/History from the University of Ife (1980) and enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force on December 8, 1982.

Ogunsakin, who is due to retire from service on August 1, 2017, is presently AIG in charge of Zone 10 with headquarters in Bauchi, has held various command positions, including Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, and head of operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC).

He is believed to have the backing of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other prominent South-West leaders.

Mbu Joseph Mbu

Outspoken and controversial, Mbu Joseph Mbu, former Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, is said to be banking on God to become the next IGP. He may have a rough time with people like Rotimi Amaechi, cabinet minister in the present administration to contend with in his march to becoming Arase’s successor.

Born on April 10, 1958, in Etung, old Ikom Local Government Area, Cross Rivers State, Mbu, a 1983 graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, enlisted into the police on December 31, 1984.

He has held several positions, including Commissioner, Police Mobile Force, Commissioner of Police, Rivers, Oyo and Federal Capital Territory commands, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 and Zone 2. He is presently the Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos.

He retires from service on April 10, 2018.

Insiders say it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Mbu to become the next IGP, considering what Amaechi suffered in the hands of the former CP while he was governor of Rivers State.

Although Mbu does not have the support of any known prominent politician or traditional ruler, observers believe he is in good stead to becoming the number one police officer, if integrity is a strong factor in the appointment of the next IGP.

Olufemi Adebowale Adenaike

Not much is known about this officer until a few weeks ago when his name started trending as one of the hopefuls for the IGP office.

A native of Ijebu, Ogun State, Adenaike, who is currently the AIG in charge of the Department of Training and Development at the Force Headquarters reportedly have the endorsement of Bola Tinubu and other prominent chiefs, politicians and business mogul from the South-west.

Born on December 3, 1958 in Ijebu- East Local Government Area, Adenaike joined the police as Cadet Assistant Superintendent on December 8, 1982.

He has held various positions, including Commissioner in charge of Kaduna State command and Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

A 1981 graduate of Sociology from the University of Lagos, Adenaike also has a Masters degree in Sociology from the same university. He is due for retirement from service in December, 2017.