What opposition parties will do if IGP Idris is seen dressed in police uniform on Jan 15

Opposition political parties under the umbrella of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), have vowed to stage nationwide protests to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari replaces Ibrahim Idris as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

CUPP made the resolution on Sunday, announcing that the protests will commence from January 15, should Buhari fail to announce a replacement for Idris.

Idris is said to have ceased to be a policeman since January 3, 2019 after 35 years in service.

However, he has continued to serve as the police boss and there are speculations that President Buhari wants to extend his tenure to allow him be in charge of the force during the coming 2019 general elections.

But in a statement by CUPP, first national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, in Abuja, described Idris’ continue stay as IGP as illegal since he had served for 3 years.

Arguing that the nation’s constitution did not make provision for a former police officer to be an IG, he called on Buhari to check the provision of Section 215( 1 ) a of the 1999 Constitution which according to him, states that the President could only appoint a serving police officer as the IG.

“This means that with the reaching of the mandatory retirement age of 35 years of active service on January 3, 2019 and the mandatory retirement age of 60 years while in service by the IG (which comes up on January 15 , 2019), the IG is constitutionally barred from being retained or reappointed as the IG as he is no longer a serving police officer.

“His continued stay in office is illegal and an act of impersonation as there is no legal or documentary evidence to back up his stay as the IG.

Read also: Amid rumours of planned post-retirement tenure extension, IGP Idris meets Buhari

“ We call on President Buhari to be courageous to announce the replacement and not bow to the pressure to cement illegality in the core of the nation ’s security architecture due to his desperation to rig himself back to power knowing he has been rejected by the Nigerian people.

“The uncertainty in the leadership of the police in such auspicious moment emboldens persons with sinister motives and demoralises senior officers of the force due to this abrupt and unlawful halt to their career progression.

“The law is clear on who can be appointed as the Inspector -General of Police and who cannot be appointed as Inspector -General of Police and Mr Ibrahim Idris is now in the latter group,” the statement read.

He added, “It is flowing from this and to save our dear country from further drift from a government that lacks capacity to provide leadership to our country that the secretariat of CUPP hereby directs all coalition members in the 36 states to begin preparation for nationwide protests from January 15 if the retired IG is seen dressed in police uniform around the Force Headquarters.

“The protests will be in front of the police command headquarters of every state and shall be continuous till the right thing is done.

“During the protests, there shall be a declaration that since Mr Ibrahim Idris is no longer a police officer , he cannot be addressed as the IG and a call to him to steer clear of the Force Headquarters.

“By January 15, Mr Ibrahim Idris would have attained both 35 years ( January 3, 2019 ) in service and 60 years of age (January 15 , 2019) and he would have been roundly unqualified to occupy the office of the Inspector -General of Police.

“Finally, we call on President Buhari that he should realise now that he would be held personally responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order , loss of lives and property if he continues down this path of noxious plots to rig himself into power. A word is enough for the wise !”

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