With a few hours to the retirement of the Inspector General of Police
\n(IGP) Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, northern muslim leaders have heightened
\npressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a muslim successor.<\/p>\n
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the northern leaders have told Jonathan
\nto appoint another muslim as replacement or forfeit their support in 2015.<\/p>\n
The same leaders, led by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote and
\nprominent traditional rulers from the north had failed to convince
\nJonathan to extend the tenure of Zamfara-born Abubakar.<\/p>\n
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the lobbyists have recommended Suleiman
\nAbba, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7. He had
\nserved as Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Rivers States.<\/p>\n
This is the first time religion would be introduced as a basis for the
\nappointment of the IG, a position that has been dominated by northern
\nmuslims.<\/p>\n
The leaders, it was gathered, had accused Jonathan of populating vacant
\noffices, particularly in the military and para-military agencies with
\nchristians.<\/p>\n
It was not clear if the president had succumbed to the lobbyists, given
\nthat he (Jonathan) has appointed two northern muslims IG in a row, and
\nboth men turned out to be a huge disappointment.<\/p>\n
Since 1999, the duo of the immediate past IGP, Hafiz Ringim and Mohammed
\nAbubakar are the least lettered police bosses.<\/p>\n
While Ringim had a diploma, Abubakar joined the service with a Teacher’s
\nGrade II certificate and wangled his way to the top even when his course
\nmates from the south would be retiring as Assistant Commissioners of
\nPolice (ACP).<\/p>\n
Since 1964, when Mr. Louis Edet became the first indigenous IG, ten
\nmuslims have held the coveted position against six christians.<\/p>\n
The ten muslims jointly served for over 38 years. Musiliu Smith and Tafa
\nBalogun are muslim Yoruba, and jointly served for less than six years.
\nSince Edet left as IG, the other Christians who have held the position
\nare Sunday Adewusi (1981- 1983), Etim Iyang (1985- 1986), and Sunday
\nEhindero (2005-2007).<\/p>\n
Michael Okiro was the fourth Christian, and the first Igbo to be appointed
\nIG. He served from 2007 to 2009. He was succeeded by another Christian and
\nIgbo, Ogbonnaya Onovo who served for eight months.<\/p>\n
Kam Salem, Gambo Jimeta and Ibrahim Coomasie spent nearly 20 years as IG.<\/p>\n
A top presidency source told Pointblanknews.com that President Jonathan
\nwas disappointed at the resort to religion, even when it was clear that
\nmuslims have spent more time in powerful military and civil positions than
\nchristians.<\/p>\n
The source said Jonathan wouldn’t fall for such cheap blackmail for an
\nappointment that is solely his to make.<\/p>\n
“Nobody dictates to the President on whom to appoint as IG. It is a
\ndecision only Mr. President can take. So, I don’t think he would fall for
\nsuch cheap blackmail.<\/p>\n
“The same elements blackmailed him into sacking his brother, the late
\nGeneral Owoeye Azazi. They had told him that Boko Haram would end the day
\nhe appoints a Fulani NSA. What has happened since the appointment of Col.
\nDasuki Sambo? Mr. President can’t afford to be fooled this time around,”
\nthe source added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With a few hours to the retirement of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, northern muslim leaders have heightened pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n