Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN, has congratulated former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, on his appointment as the Chairman, Police Service Commission, PSC.
In the same vein, the association, felicitated with acting Assistant Inspector General of Police, Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, Commissioners of Police: Ari Mohammed Ali and Frank Mba for their promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police by the PSC.
Also in the list is the Commander, Intelligence Response Team, IRT, DCP Tunji Disu, on his elevation to the rank of Commissioner of Police.
The congratulatory messages were made known in signed statements by the Association Secretary, Niran Odufayo.
According to him, the choice of Arase to the exalted position did not come as a surprise.
He added, “Rather, it is a move in the right direction and an express indication of putting a round peg in a round hole, owing to his antecedents and record breaking up-beat, during his short stint as the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
The group said, “With this appointment, there is no doubt that Arase is saddled with the responsibility of repositioning the Nigeria Police in all its ramifications, giving the seeming fall out between the Police and the populace.
CRAN expressed optimism that Arase will come up with strategic Police thrusts that will address the Service’s bridge function, by ensuring that extra judicial killings and human rights abuses are curbed to its barest minimum and bring his versatile exposure and intellectual competence to bear especially in the Commission’s appointment, promotional, disciplinary, dismissal and welfare functions, as empowered by the Nigerian Constitution.
The group stated that the appointment function must follow holistic selection that considers a broad range of factors for short and long term benefits.
Stating further that having followed his track records as a top echelon of the Nigeria Police Force, it is instructive to inform that expectations on him are high to bring his professional expertise to bear on this nouveau saddle.
The group promised that as an association, it will support Arase to succeed, as long as he puts in the necessary policy thrusts that will make the Nigeria Police Force better than it is at present.
Reacting to the promotion of the senior officers to various ranks, CRAN stated it has followed the trajectory of the fine senior police officers as an association and their inclusion in the list of officers promoted, as announced by the PSC, could not have come at a better time than now, when their professionalism and expertise are needed to fill the vacant positions orchestrated by the recent retirement of some senior police officers.
In the communication, the association noted that AIG Alabi has over the years demonstrated a rare professionalism and dedication to the Nigeria Police Force.
For the Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Ali, now AIG, the association recalled his operational maneuvers which brought the reign of various robbery and kidnap gangs to an end, with the arrest of hundreds of suspects and recovery of several arms, ammunition and other exhibits to show for his operational dexterity.
In the same vein, the group noted that antecedents of the former Force spokesman, Frank Mba, who was recently deployed to the Ogun State Police Command as the Commissioner of Police, are also there to speak for him. His feats in less than two months of his stay in Ogun are startlingly beyond expectations.
The group stated that though the promotion of the Commander IRT, CP Disu, is long overdue, it is imperative to note that this erudite, operational and sagacious cop has never failed to police with a human face.
Odufayo stated these attributes have not only enhanced the team’s intelligence gathering, it has also helped to project the Nigeria Police in a positive light.
He concluded, “To whom much is given, much is expected, thus, CRAN hereby urges these senior officers to see their elevation to the next ranks as a call for more professionalism and commitment towards aligning the paths of their subordinates for democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.
