CUPP sets agenda for new Police IG, urges removal of Lagos CP
Opposition political parties on the platform of the Coalition of United Political Parties on Tuesday set an agenda for the acting Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu.
The political parties demanded the immediate release of political detainees such as Senator Dino Melaye and rights activist, Deji Adeyanju.
They as well called for the reversal of the recent appointment of Kayode Egbetokun, a former security aide to a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as the acting Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos State Command.
The coalition’s spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja.
Ugochinyere, who is also the National Chairman of Action Peoples Party, was joined at the press conference by the chairmen of Action Alliance, Restoration Party of Nigeria, Coalition for Change and Green Party.
He said following the appointment, the coalition had called off the nationwide protest it had earlier planned to force President Muhammadu Buhari not to extend the tenure of the former IGP, Ibrahim Idris, who attained the retirement age of 60 on Tuesday.
He said opposition political parties would also cease fire for seven days to allow the acting IGP settle down and meet their demands.
Ugochinyere said the acting IGP must immediately convene a meeting with leaders of all political parties in preparation for the general elections and make commitment that Police would not clamp down on opposition leaders ahead of the elections.
He urged the new Police boss to discontinue what he described as “indiscriminate posting and redeployment of Police officers” across the country and bring to book those who unleashed violence on the family home of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He said, “The seven-day ceasefire is, by our estimation, long enough for the new Police helmsman to decide on the trajectory of his leadership.
“However, we are minded to call on the new IG to spare no efflorts in restoring the image of the Nigeria Police which is currently ranked as the worst in the world.
“Furthermore, we call on the new Inspector-General of Police to commence immediate action to review the cases of all political prisoners held in the various Police cells across the nation, with a view to releasing them forthwith, including Mr. Deji Adeyanju who was acquitted by a court of law but is now in prison because someone does not like his political views.
“We also call for the release of Senator Dino Melaye, as allegations against him by the Police are different from the charges filed in court against him
“The new Inspector-General must, as a matter of urgency, distance the institution of the Police from the murky waters of partisan politics and shield his office and officers from being annexed by the outgoing APC.”
He said the call for Police neutrality was in the interest of the nation, as the Police owe every citizen protection and must not be seen as supporting any political party.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties cut a cake at the press conference to Mark Idris’ 60th birthday.
Ugochinyere said the cutting of the cake was meant to symbolise the end of Idris’ era.
(PUNCH)
