A former Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawrence Alobi says that the nomination of former service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari for ambassadorial positions is acceptable.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari had on Feb. 4, announced the nomination of three former service chiefs and the Chief of Defence staff as non-career ambassadors-designate.
Alobi, who said this in an interview with NAN on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the appointments were based on capacity of the nominees to perform.
“If the president believe they have done well in their last assignments, so be it. I am sure they will prove themselves where they will be posted.
“If there are gaps somewhere, there will be a need to bring people who have the capacity to do the job on board,’’ he said.
On the extension of the tenure of the Inspector- General of Police (I-G), Alobi said it was done to give the Police Council enough time to select the best candidate for the position.
“The extension is to allow the police council to carefully select the next I-G who should have the capacity and vision to discharge his duties effectively,’’ he said.
The former commissioner said that the extension would also give the I-G time to consolidate and stabilise the police for a seamless transition.
He noted that after the #EndSARS protests in 2020, the Nigerian police was traumatised and needed to be re-engineered to carry on with its duties.
“The police were traumatised during the protests and the I-G went round the country to restore the confidence of the policemen.
“He should be allowed to consolidate on the gains. I don’t think the president has done anything wrong in giving him an extension,’’ he said.
According to Alobi, Nigerians should trust and have confidence in their leaders, as the police are a critical institution that required officers with capacity.
“I am surprised some people are going to court to challenge the action. There was a time the tenure of permanent secretaries was extended and no one went to court,’’ he said. (NAN)
