Lagos — With the recent retirement of Tafa Balogun as Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Police Council is faced with the option of either confirming the appointment of the Acting IGP, Sunday Ehindero, picking from the other four DIGs or the about 20 AIGs currently in the Force to replace him. Godwin Ifijeh takes a look at the state of the Force and hazards a guess on who heads the Force in the last lap of the Obasanjo administration.

Quite frankly, nobody thought of this situation again in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the life of the present government.

Though schemings within and outside the Force to get Mustapha Adebayo Balogun out of office were always there, it was taken that the office of the Force's Inspector General of Police (IGP), all things being equal, was his till after May 29, 2007, when President Olusegun Obasanjo would have passed the baton to a new president. Balogun was not only close to President Obasanjo, he had the privilege of dealing with him directly, by-passing the Minister of Police Affairs and the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC) even on matters that were outside the Force's operations.

Though the announced retirement on January 17, of the IGP, who is now on terminal leave, with effect from March 6, 2005, when he will exactly be three years in office, came as a surprise, it all the same threw open a window of opportunity for ambitious officers, who were likely to attain the retirement age or mandatory service of 60 years and 35 years respectively by 2007. Such officers, no doubt, saw Balogun as an obstacle to their ambition.

With no formal meeting of the Police Council, whose membership comprises the President as Chairman, governors of the 36 states of the Federation, the Chairman, Police Service Commission, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), charged by the constitution to appoint and dismiss an IGP, the only option left to President Obasanjo on January 17, when Balogun suddenly commenced his terminal leave, preparatory to his retirement from March 6, 2005, was what he did, appoint an acting IGP till when the council finds it convenient to meet and advice the president on who succeeds Balogun.

While the council may well wait till the March 6, effective date of Balogun's retirement before it confirms the appointment of Mr Sunday G. Ehindero, who has been acting as IGP, get any of the other four Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) or 20 Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) appointed into the position, debates were already awash as to who succeeds Balogun.

Those arguing against the confirmation of Ehindero say that it would offend the rule of collective responsibility since the six DIGs appointed along with Balogun on March 6, 2002, when they took over from Musiliu Smith, to represent their geographical zones in the bid to de-centralise the administration of the Force, could not dissociate themselves from the sins of the former IGP, particularly as they never spoke out when he was doing what he did. Talks among some senior officers and rank and file do not favour him for the position either. As DIG Administration, complaints are that inter-state transfers became a cash and get thing. The Mobile Force unit also became an all comer affair. Against the rule that personnel of less than three years in service were not admitted into it and constables were not allowed to carry arms, the unit became a heaven for all sorts of personnel, including fresh constables from police colleges, who saw it a very fertile ground. Qualified and unqualified men and officers were alleged to be buying their way into the unit under the DIG's nose.

Those in favour,however, argue that Balogun sidelined the DIGs and solely ran the affairs of the police in his three years in office and so, could be forgiven.

All six of them (DIGs), who were now about five, including Ehindero, after Alhaji Musa B. Abdulkadir, who was in charge of 'E' Department (Training) and most senior of them, retired last year on health ground, were appointed to represent their geographical zone in the management committee under Balogun. Adopted from a 'Marshal Plan' for the Force christened: "The Five-Year Development Plan", which was approved by the Federal Executive Council during the time of Lt-General David Jemibewon (rtd) as Police Affairs Minister in Obasanjo's first term, the DIGs include Ehindero, who represented the South West and was in charge of the 'A' Department (Administration), Bello W. Labaran, representing the North West and has been in charge of the 'F' Department (Research and Planning), after he was redeployed from his initial 'D' Department (Investigation and Intelligence), and Ogbonna O. Onovo, who represents the South East and took charge of the 'F' Department until he swop position with Labaran sometime last year.

Others were Ahmed Abdulkadir, representing the North East and was in charge of the 'C' Department (Works), Musa B. Abdulkadir, who represented the North Central and was in charge of the 'E' Department (Training) until he retired unceremoniously last year on health ground and Michael M. Okiro, representing the South South and has been in charge of the 'B' Department (Operations).

What, however, stands clear is that the office of the IGP under the current dispensation is zoned to the South West.

Impliedly, if the Police Council decides to appoint a replacement for Balogun from amongst the DIGs, the zoning of the position to the South West automatically places Ehindero at an advantage. This position is believed to have worked in his favour when he was appointed to act as IGP on Balogun's stepping down on January 17.

A lawyer, who has written many books and presented many papers on the Nigeria Police Force and its operations, many of which were now variously in use at the nation's police colleges, Ehindero is seen and respected as an academic in the Force. Apart from the fact that critics see him as part of the Balogun administration, who like the other DIGs should go with the former IGP, the other minus for him in his quest to succeed Balogun is that the Akoko Local Government Area of Ondo State born lawyer, who was once the Force's Commissioner in Charge of Legal Matters and AIG Zone 2, Lagos, before his appointment as DIG, would attain the retirement age of 60, on March 20, 2006. He got enlisted into the force on May 1, 1973.

For the record, Labaran, who hails from Wurno, Sokoto State, on the other hand, and enlisted into the Force on February 1, 1972, is due for retirement after 35 years of mandatory service on February 1, 2007 while Onovo from Nkanu Local Government Area, Enugu State, and joined the Force on August 1, 1997, retires on August 1, 2012, after 35 years of mandatory service.

Ahmed Abdulkadir is from Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State. He enlisted into the Force on February 1, 1972, and would retire on February 1, 2007, after 35 years of mandatory service. Okiro, on the other hand, who hails from Onelga Local Government Area of Rivers State, enlisted into the Force on August 1, 1977, and stands to retire on July 24, 2009, when he would have attained the retirement age of 60.

If the Police Council opts to retire the DIGs and pick a replacement from Balogun from the AIGs, the battle would be among four AIGs from the South West area of the country. They are Fatai Fagbemi, AIG Zone 12, Bauchi, Christopher Yekini Jimoh, AIG, Zone II, Oshogbo, Adedayo Adeoye, former AIG Zone 2, Lagos, who recently completed a year Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos, Plateau State, and was awaiting posting, and Gazali D. Lawal, the incumbent AIG Zone 2, Lagos.

Fagbemi, who hails from Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State, joined the Force on October 1, 1969. Fagbemi, who will be 58 years on September 8, 2007, retired officialy from the Force on October 1, 2004, after 35 years of service. He is currently enjoying an extension of service. Apart from this, which makes him not to be in contention for the office, Musiliu Smith, who handed over to Balogun, hails from the same Lagos Island as him. The Police Council may not be too disposed to appointing another Lagos man as IGP in so so short a time.

Yekini Jimoh, as he is popular known, from Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, enlisted into the Force on August 1, 1976, with a Bachelor of Arts degree certificate. The 59-year-old man was promoted AIG on October 1, 2002, and is due for retirement on November 21, next year on attainment of the retirement age of 60 years.

Yekini, who has served in various capacities in the Force, including being Commissioner of Police in the old Bendel State, could be lucky to succeed Balogun if the AIGs are considered for the position. He has the advantage of being from the same Ogun State as President Obasanjo. Added to that, the state is not known to have produced an IGP, but age, which should see him out of the Force on retirement by next year November, may work against him. The other minus against him is that he has not gone on any senior management course either at the National War College or the NIPSS, which counts a great deal in appointments into such high positions.

Beside, he will find it difficult getting the support of the media if apported IGP, having allegedly led the police team that brutalised journalists at a PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja recently.

Adeoye, 56, is from Ede Local Government Area of Osun State. He enlisted into the Force on August 1, 1976, with a Bachelor of Science Degree certificate in Geography. Having served in various capacities in the Force across the country, the deeply religious man, who is due for retirement on April 18, 2009, when he would attain the retirement age of 60, was promoted AIG on October 1, 2002. He was AIG Zone 2, Lagos, from April 2002, till December, 2003, when he proceeded on leave/course to the NIPSS to do a year Senior Executive Course on Leadership.

Adeoye performed brilliantly well at the NIPSS. He won the Outstanding Leadership Qualities Prize for the year 2004 ahead of the other 54 participants drawn from the military, police and civil service, and came second in the academics.

Standing in favour of the AIG for the appointment are age, his academic record and brilliance, his recent course at the NIPSS and his humbleness. But he has to his disadvantage the fact that he is from the same Osun State as Balogun, who a successor is being sought for.

Gazali D. Lawal is another South West AIG, who may be in contest for the position. The most junior of the AIGs, having only been promoted into that position on September 22, 2003, Lawal, who would be 56, on February 14, 2005, hails from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State. Having enlisted into the Force with a Bachelor of Science Degree certificate on August 1, 1976, Lawal, who served in various capacities in the Force across the country, including being Commissioner of Police (CP) in Oyo and Kaduna States and AIG Zone 5, Benin, where he was redeployed to Lagos to take over the Zone 2 Zonal Command from Adeoye in December, 2003, is due to retire from the Force on February 14, 2009.

While like Adeoye, age and his academic background favours him for the appointment, the fact that he has not gone for any senior management course is a minus for him. Added to that, apart from the fact that he is from the same Osun State as Balogun, he was generally perceived as one of the former IG's hatchet men. His promotion and those of the others, allegedly moved with him to the position of AIG and decorated by Balogun in 2003, had caused serious misunderstanding between Balogun and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, who faulted the promotions, arguing that the IGP had no power to make such promotions but the commission.

Other AIGs in the service of the Force include 56-year old Hamzat Ahmed, AIG Zone 3, Yola. He hails from Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Ahmed, who joined the Police on February 1, 1972, was promoted AIG on October 2, 2000, and is due to retire on February 1, 2007, when he would attain the mandatory 35 years of service.

Sunday Aghedo, from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, is AIG Zone 6, Calabar. Born on Christmas Day in 1945, Aghedo enlisted into the Police with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography on may 1, 1973. He was promoted AIG in 2001, and is due to retire from service on Christmas Day this year when he would have attained the retirement age of 60.

Promoted AIG on October 1, 2002, Christopher P. Umoh, from Ibiono-Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, is AIG Zone 10, Sokoto. The 61-year-old Umoh enlisted into the Police with a diploma certificate in April 1971. Umoh was due to retire from the Force on April 2, 2004, on attainment of the retirement age of 60. He may well be enjoying a service extension.

The Police Staff College, Jos, has AIG Dika Buba Bwala, from Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, as Commandant. Forty-five-year-old Bwala, who joined the Force on October 1, 1969, was promoted AIG in 2002. He was due for retirement on October 1, 2004, after serving out the mandatory 35 years of service.

AIG Uba B. Ringim, who hails from Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, is the Force Secretary. Promoted AIG on October 1, 2002, Ringim, who enlisted into the Force with a Bachelor of Arts Degree on August 1, 1979, was born August 1, 1955. He is due to retire from the Force on August 1, 2014, when he would attain the mandatory service of 35 years.

From Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, AIG Yakubu Mohammed is at the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. Fifty-seven-year-old Mohammed, who enlisted into the Force on April 1, 1973 with a diploma certificate and promoted AIG in 2002, is due to retire on April 1, 2008, when he would have attained the mandatory service of 35 years.

Born on October 1, 1953, AIG Yusuf Haruna from Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, is in charge of Zone 8, Lokoja. Haruna, who was promoted AIG on October 1, 2002, enlisted into the Force on June 15, 1974, after fully qualifying as a lawyer. He is due to retire on June 15, 2009, when he would attain the mandatory service of 35 years.

AIG Njangor E. Njom, from Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, is Commandant, Police Academy, Kano. Fifty-nine-year-old Njom, who became AIG on February 1, 2003, enlisted into the Force on April 7, 1968, with a Bachelor of Science degree certificate. He may well be enjoying a service extension.

Sixty-year-old AIG Bennett O. Oghomone, from Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, who enlisted into the Force on May 1, 1973, with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree certificate, is in charge of Zone 4, Makurdi. He was promoted AIG on September 22, 2003, and is due to retire on August 1, 2005, when he would be 60 years old.

Abdulrahim M. Yusuf, a lawyer, is AIG Zone 9, Umuahia. Born in Okene Kogi State, on August 1, 1951, Yusuf, who enlisted into the Force on March 3, 1973, was promoted AIG on September 22, 2003. He is due to retire from service on March 3, 2008, when he would attain the mandatory service of 35 years.

Fifty-six-year-old Keran Z. Dudari, from Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State is AIG Zone 1, Kano. Promoted AIG on September 22, 2003, he enlisted into the Force on August 1, 1976, with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree certificate and he is due to retire from service on May 16, 2009, when he attains the retirement age of 60.

AIG Wilfred Ehikhametalor, from Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, is in charge of Zone 7, Abuja. The 62-year-old officer, who was promoted AIG on May 25, 2001, joined the Force on May 1, 1973, with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree certificate in History. He retired from service on April 5, 2003, when he attained the retirement age of 60. He is enjoying a service extension since he officially retired on April 4, 2003.

Others are Dr Ejiro H. Akpowowo, who is AIG Medical 'A' Department. Promoted AIG on October 1, 2002, the 59-year-old Ethiope, Delta State-born officer, who enlisted into the Force on July 1, 1977, retires January 1, next year when he will be 60 years of age. Mamman J. Araga, from Okene, Kogi State, is AIG Communications. Fifty-seven-year-old Araga, who became AIG on September 29, 2003, joined the Force on February 26, 1973, and is due to retire on February 26, 2008, when he would be 35 years in service. Dr Jingi Misau Mohammed, AIG Veterinary, on the other hand, enlisted into the Force on August 1, 1978. Promoted AIG on September 15, 2003, Mohammed, who was born on June 15, 1951, in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State, is due to retire from the Force on June 6, 2011, when he would have attained the retirement age of 60. Dangwaram Sambo from Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State, is AIG Works, 'C' Department, Force Headquarters. The 58-year-old man, who joined the Force in June 1972, with a Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate, is due to retire on January 1, 2007, when he would attain the retirement age of 60 as well as the mandatory service of 35 years.

From the foregoing, the odd favours either Ehindero or Adeoye, becoming the next IGP. Though age is not on his side, bearing in mind that the office of the IGP is a political appointment, Ehindero could still be confirmed as substantive IGP. Added to that, his actions in the next few weeks as acting IGP would go a long way to determine whether or not he would be confirmed.

However, if the Police Council decides to sweep away the DIGs with Balogun, considering that they were all together in his management committee, and the office remains zoned to the South West, then, Adeoye stands shoulder high above all others from the zone to emerge as successor to Balogun.