Niger Delta
Uduaghan Wants Police To Prosecute Erring Politicians
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has enjoined the Nigeria Police not to treat politicians with kid gloves but arrest and prosecute anyone found breaking the law no matter how highly placed.
The governor, who made the call when the outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state Mr. Yakubu Akali and the new Commissioner Mr. Ibrahim Tsafe paid him a courtesy call in Asaba, urged the Police not to see the political class as sacred cow so that there will be peace and sanity in the system.
Uduaghan charged the Police to be alert and do its job without fear, so that, the April election will be credible and acceptable to all Nigerians.
He promised not to interfere or protect any body found wanting, adding that criminals should not hide under the cloak of politics to disrupt peace and cause hardship for the people.
“Nobody is above the law and anybody who breaks the law should be prosecuted irrespective of the person’s position in the society. I am not going to protect anybody”, he said.
The Governor reminded the new Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Tsafe that he was bound to face challenges in the state, especially while enforcing the law.
He, therefore, urged him not to succumb to the ugly tactics of politicians but rather be brave and courageous to enable him succeed.
Uduaghan, who promised to continue to give logistic support to the state Police command, was optimistic that the new Commissioner will surpass his predecessor.
He described the outgoing Commissioner of police Mr. Yakubu Akali as a silent achiever who created unprecedented record in crime control.
According to him, Mr. Akali was in the habit of quietly carrying out surveillance alone in the state and the result of such exercise was astonishing.
“Mr. Akali has a unique way of monitoring his men and checking crime in the state and it was result oriented. He will just drive round the state alone in mufty and achieve result”, the Governor said.
In his remark, Mr. Akali said the three point agenda of the State Government spurred him to action.
He particularly praised the peace and security programme, even as he remarked that he faced a lot of challenges in Delta State but said humorously that challenges were for human beings.
Akali expressed appreciation over the governor for all the support and appealed to the Governor to extend the same gesture to his successor.