Lagos — On June 1, Government announced the appointment of Mr Mike Mbama Okiro, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG, as Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP). The appointment followed the pulling out, finally, of Mr. Sunday Ehindero, whose tenure in that capacity was unduly extended by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.

We must commend the appointment of Mr Okiro chiefly, because it was not exposed to the usual political intrigues, manipulations and manoeuvres that had, over time, influenced such appointments. For once an Igbo of the South South geo-political zone has been appointed to head the Police. Indeed, no Igbo has since Independence headed the Police, even when officers of that stock had been eminently qualified by whatever criteria of assessment. This appointment, no doubt, is a recognition of professionalism, track record and integrity.

The challenge, therefore, is for the new IGP to further show that his appointment is not a mistake. This is particularly so because the Police left behind by the Obasanjo administration, were not sufficiently weaned of their military mentality, being a hangover of the several years the institution operated under military regimes. It is still on record that the 2003 and 2007 general elections were reportedly rigged by the politicians with the connivance of top Police hierarchy.

While the top hierarchy meddled with politics, their lieutenants busied themselves less with policing operations and more with mounting of illegal road blocks, where as little as N20 are being collected from transporters, connivance with armed robbers to commit and abet crimes, among others. These activities were carried out with unbridled arrogance and shameless impunity. The effects are numerous.

Today, we have a Police with an image crisis. Not so many Nigerians have confidence in their Police. The age-long cliché that the "Police are your friend" has lost meaning as many a Nigerian, prefer to kiss the canvass than to have anything to do with the Police, even to volunteer information to them. It is that bad.

There are also cases of unresolved and politically-motivated murders including those of Chief Bola Ige, former Attorney General and Minister of justice, Dr. Harry Marshal, Chief Ogbonna Uche, Chief Funsho Williams and the Apo six. In all these cases, Police showed crass insensitivity and unprofessionalism.

As it is, Okiro must tackle the image crisis of the Police head on. In this direction, the Police must leave the roads if their presence is just to collect 'bribes' from transporters and intimidate ordinary Nigerians. This sight of the Police on our roads is shameful and despicable and reduces us to a nation of lawlessness before foreign nationals who are equally subjected to these vices of the Police.

The Police must be taught the language of democracy and civilised conduct in an effort to deepen our democracy. This would mean a complete re-orientation of the men and officers of the institution. It might take time, but it is achievable, hence Okiro must work hard at it.

The Police must also be properly equipped to combat today's criminals, who are more daring, modern and sophisticated. For effective policing of Nigeria, we need a mobile and modern day Police to face present day criminals. Accordingly, we urge President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to address the issue of equipping, training and retraining of the Police with urgency. This administration must appreciate the fact that there is no achievement by any government greater than the protection of lives and property. And it is only a ready, equipped, motivated and trained Police that can guarantee such.

We are aware that the new IGP is inheriting a Police with low morale, occasioned by poor welfare conditions and unfriendly working environment. Twice in the last six years, the rank and file of the Police had threatened to go on strike to impress on their employers the need to address their welfare conditions. Now is the time to honestly address these issues.

We, therefore, expect Okiro in accord with the Police Service Commission (PSC) to workout for the Police, a better pay package based on the peculiar nature of their job; ensure barracks accommodation for all their men and officers and also promote all those who are due for promotion. We are equally persuaded to appeal to the Police authorities to consider the issue of converting graduate junior Police personnel to their proper positions. We make this plea based on our understanding that substantial number of junior personnel who have obtained higher and better certificates over time, have been left in their lower positions. This should be redressed, even though some of them may have used official time for the self-enhancing academic programmes.

While we counsel that more Nigerians should be urgently recruited, putting into consideration their character, upbringing and academic status, we urge the Edet House chief occupant to abolish the use of the Police for private security duties by the rich, the affluent and the powerful in society. Given the problem of under policing in our polity (still less than 1:500 persons by the UN ratio), the country can not afford this. Besides, the use of Police officers and men as private guards reduces them in worth, relevance and professionalism.

Perhaps, the greatest challenge for Mr Okiro is the burden of leadership. And this calls for leadership by example. He must guard against filthy lucre and arrogance of power in order to command the respect and obedience of his officers and men.

.We also urge Okiro to restore public confidence in the Police in the same way he did as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State even under the military .