CUPP ALLEGES PLOT TO EXTEND THE TENURE OF IGP, IDRIS

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called on the Federal Government to direct the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to immediately proceed on terminal leave in line with public service rules.

Addressing a news conference in Owerri, the National Spokesperson for the opposition coalition, Chief Ikenga Ugochinyere, alleged plot to extend the service of the IGP, whom he said would be due for retirement by January next year having attained mandatory 60 years of age.

He noted that CUPP had dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to a federal high court in Abuja to stop what he described as illegal moves to extend the stay of the IGP in office.

Chief Ugochinyere warned that the coalition would cease to recognize Mr. Idris as the Inspector General of Police after January 15, 2019 and urged President Buhari to take steps towards appointing a new Boss for the Force.

“The issue of the retirement of the Inspector General of Police is yet another integrity test for the President. By the provisions of section 215 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, the Inspector General of Police can only be appointed from among serving officers. Any attempt to proceed with the plan for this secret extension of the tenure of the IG will be unconstitutional, unlawful and unacceptable and will further heat up the polity.

“If the President goes ahead to illegally extend the tenure of the IGP who will cease being a police officer by January 15, 2019 having reached the constitutional retirement age of 60 years, the Nigerian opposition will not recognize the illegal extension the illegal extension and will not recognize him as Inspector General,” the CUPP Spokesperson said.

Chief Ugochinyere insisted that allowing the IGP to remain in office beyond January 2019 would further justify the allegation that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was desperate to win 2019 general election.

He called on Nigerians to join hands in resisting any attempt to prolong the service of the IGP, whom he accused of compromise.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU