Arase's Removal: PANDEF Blows Hot.

 

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)  has  asked why Dr. Solomon Arase, former Inspector General of Police was relieved of his duty as Chairman of the Police Service Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

Recall that Solomon Arase, a former Inspector General and a native of Edo State in the South-South region of Nigeria, was appointed as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari but was relieved of his duty on  Monday, 10th June 2024.

PANDEF stated that according to Section 3, subsection (1)a of the Police Service Commission Act 2002, subject to the provisions of Section 4 of the Act, a member of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall each hold office for a term of four years.

PANDEF viewed Arase's removal as unwarranted and an unnecessary provocation that reflects  negatively on Tinubu’s administration, indicating  lack of regard for the nation's laws that Mr. President swore to uphold and protect.

PANDEF questioned why any serious government would dismiss a personality like Solomon Arase,  who it said  initiated positive reforms and improvements at the Commission,  giving his meritorious track record as a diligent police officer, who rose through the ranks to become the 18th Inspector General of Police of the Nigeria Police Forceand retired with dignity.

The group   therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tell Nigerians, and the world, at large, the reason or reasons for Arase's removal noting that when the President dissolved the memberships of boards and agencies of the federal government in 2023, shortly after assuming office, the leadership of the Police Service Commission remained untouched, presumably due to its statutory position. 

It said that Mr President should recognize that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens and any attempt to marginalize the people of the Niger Delta region and the South-South Geopolitical zones will not be taken lightly.

 In a statement on Sunday by the group which was signed by Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE

National Chairman, PANDEF,   the group stated that this singular act further portrays this administration as one that does not prioritize competence, integrity and efficiency thereby  sacrificing merit on the altar of favoritism.

The statement continued  "The Act also detailed the conditions for removal from office in Sections 4 as cited below, notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act, a person shall cease to hold office as member of the Commission if he becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or he is convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty of fraud; or he becomes of unsound mind, or is incapable of carrying out his duties.

 "He is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties; or in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is disqualified or suspended, other than at his own request, from practicing his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made in respect of that member.A member of the Commission may be removed by the President if he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Commission or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.

"Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 of this Act, the Chairman and any other member, may at any time be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause of misconduct).

"We have been inundated with disturbing reports of discrimination against our people in the last few months, particularly regarding the mass layoffs at the Central Bank of Nigeria, disproportionately affecting staff from the southern regions, especially the South South and South East zones. 

"We refrained from commenting on recent challenges to allow the Tinubu administration address them, but it appears the administration has opted to sustain the discriminatory practices against the people of the South-South Geopolitical zone..Suffice to remind that the sacrifices and contributions of the South-South zone to the unity and sustenance of Nigeria are unparalleled.

"We are not unaware of the conflict between the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force since 2020, majorly due to issues bordering on recruitment into the constables cadre of the Police Force.

"It is pertinent to implore that political considerations mustn't be entertained in appointments to sensitive institutions such as the Police Service Commission.

"Mr. President should likewise note that the continued disregard for the constitution and the rule of law by the government not only mirrors negatively on law enforcement officers, the military, and political leaders but also sends a dangerous message to citizens, posing a threat to Nigeria's stability.