By Emma Nnadozie Crime Editor, Albert Akpor & Evelyn Usman
The recent appointment of Muhammed Diko Abubakar, as the nation’s 15th indigenous Inspector-General of Police in acting capacity, has, no doubt, been applauded by well- meaning Nigerians who saw the appointment as timely and appropriate; especially as it came when the country’s security apparatus was on the verge of total extinction.

However, while President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was being given thumbs up for his foresight in this very crucial appointment, a negligible few picked holes in the choice of MD Ababakar as the police chief, describing him as one who is religiously biased.

*IGP ABUBAKAR

The critics are basing their argument on the Justice Nike Tobi ‘s Report on the September 2001, Jos crisis while MD Abubakar held sway as Commissioner of Police in Plateau state. But a security practitioner Mr. Wole Olumide Madariola, an Israeli-trained detective with vast knowledge in counter-terrorism, undercover-executive protection and surveillance who has been following events as they unfolded, lashed out on critics of the new police boss describing them as ‘enemies of progress’.

To him, any attempt to judge the new Ag IGP with the Jos crisis which predated his coming to the state as CP and or the recent insurgence of the Islamic fundamentalist group, known as Boko Haram, would not only amount to ‘mischief but a calculated attempt to smear the good image the senior police officer has build over time’.

According to him, “The so called ‘Nike Tobi’ report is a Plateau state government report and not a federal government one. Even the Probe Panel was constituted unilaterally by the state government without the consent, input or participation of the federal authorities.

And if you look at the setting of the panel, it is clear that the probe panel was set up ab-initio to achieve a pre-determined objective of putting the blame of the Jos crisis squarely on the federal government, its agencies or officials, thereby exonerating the Plateau state government and its officials from all forms of blame.

It was an unfortunate coincidence that MD Abubakar was the most visible federal government official on ground at that time, and thus became a perfect scapegoat. The report was never at any time transmitted to the federal government or any of its agencies (including the Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission or office of the IGP).

And as a result of this, MD Abubakar was never at any time queried on thesubject matter. (This has since been confirmed by Police Service Commission in their well-articulated Press Release on the issue, describing the new IGP as a ‘fit and proper person’ for the job)

“In any case, the positions of the Niki Tobi Panel were mere ‘recommendations’ devoid of any force of law, particularly in this instant case where the entire process is without transparency, fairness or good faith. Above all, no ‘White Paper’ was ever issued in respect of the Probe.

The simple implication of this is that, the recommendations of Panel are not implementable. It is also important to note that the Jos Crisis predates MD Abubabar, and more than ten years after he had left Jos, the crisis has continued unabated.

Eulogizing the new IGP’s crime fighting prowess, Mr. Madariola said, ”What we need to look at in MD Abubakar’s operational competence are, his areas of core competencies such as his operational-mindedness, his versatility, his integrity, his pragmatic approach to policing, his doggedness in crime fighting, his extensive police trainings-both within and outside Nigeria which has effectively prepared him for leadership position, his de-tribalised nature as well as his pan-Nigerian outlook.

Any one who has been following history will discover that MD Abubakar worked closely with governor Fashola of Lagos state to convene the first-ever Town Hall Meeting on security (2007) at Civic Centre, Lagos. This man is a firm believer in the concept of ‘public-private partnership’ as a means of tackling security challenges, he was instrumental to the establishment of the Lagos state security trust fund; an innovative tool for funding police logistic and general security operations in the state. He fought crime to a sta

nd-still in Lagos thereby, pushing down bank robberies and other violent crimes to almost a zero level. As a Commissioner of Police, MD Abubabar regularly embarked on night anti-crime patrols and undercover operations-including the covert monitoring of his men.

He is not given to “arm-chair” policing. He is fearless and courageous, even in the face of danger! He took steps to improve the working environment, conditions of his officers and men through massive construction and re-construction works at the Command Headquarters; for example, the building furnishing and commissioning of an ultra-modern Conference Hall at the Command Headquarters, all projects were funded through his public-private partnership initiatives and not from government coffers.”

Continuing, the private detective said, “MD is a pan-Nigerian and a highly detribalized officer. In his official dealing, he is known for putting square pegs in square holes. The postings and deployment of personnel under him are determined by the competence of the individual officers and not by color, creed, tribe or any other primordial sentiment.

As a welfarist, he is known for motivating his men through the use of awards, commendation letters and cash rewards- especially to those who displayed gallantry, bravery and honesty in the face of career challenges. His career sojourn has seen him serve in all the geo-political regions of Nigeria.

Between the rank of CP and AIG, MD Abubakar served in 16 States of the Federation- qualifying him as the most versatile police officer of our generation.

In all, MD Abubakar has served in well over 20 Police Commands and Formations across the nation. He thus understands the culture, policing challenges and policing needs of the people. He is a devout and liberal moslem no doubt, MD Abubakar loves humanity with a passion.

He believes that one of the core attributes of a good police officer is his ability to love his fellow human being unconditionally. He opines that without such love and commitment, police officers will not be able to take risks or put their lives on the line on behalf of other citizens.

He is a highly cosmopolitan, accessible, generous and open minded officer, he is known to have bought copies of the Holy Bible and other Christian religious items (at different times) as birthday/Christmas gifts for his Christian friends and subordinates.

In all his service years, MD Abubakar has maintained an excellent record of selflessness, loyalty to fatherland and a total dedication to duty. So, it is abundantly malicious, callous and unpatriotic for anybody to attempt to judge him with the Nike Tobe’s report of the then Jos crisis,” he stated.