Group launch protest against new Police service commission boss, Arase, says he’s a PDP member
Group launch protest against new Police service commission boss, Arase, says he’s a PDP member
By Samuel Ogunsona
President Mohammadu Buhari and the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan have been asked to reverse the appointment of the new Police Service Commission, PSC Chairman, former Inspector General Solomon Arase.
The petition was written by Convener, The Think-Tinubu Initiative (3TI)
and Member, Policy, Research & Strategy Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC)”
and signed by Omogbolahan Babawale.
In a petition tagged “Here May Be Fire on the Mountain, Let every leg run” signed by Omogbolahan Bolanle, the Think Tinubu Initiative said Arase is a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and may use his position to influence the security network during the election.
The petition said Arase as a matter of fact, he was the Chairman, Security Sub-Committee of the PDP Convention held on October 30 and 31, 2021. Today, he is the new Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC) under an APC government. The PSC is the only agency constitutionally with the responsibility of transferring service police officers, the Commissioners of Police.
The group said the appointment of Arase contradicts the principles of fairness and justice.
“The former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has just been appointed Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC). Perhaps, the leadership of both Senate and The Presidency may not be aware that former IGP Solomon Arase is a card-carrying member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)” the group said.
He added that Arase is from Agenebode area of Edo State, the same village the Chairman, Atiku Technical Committee for the 2023 election and owner of AIT/RayPower, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi hails from. The Presidency did not see any non-partisan retired police officer, if not anyone with soft spot for the APC to appoint except a known PDP bigwig. I thought President Muhammadu Buhari said he wanted to leave a lasting legacy on electoral process. Is it by appointing a PDP diehard this can be achieved? Fingers crossed!”
He said “I am not insinuating anything but why the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan hurriedly ‘endorsed’ the appointment of Arase in less than 48 hours, a known PDP member leaves much to be desired. I may be wrong but I challenge the leadership to provide any cogent apologia for this.”
In the petition, he argued that there’s no doubt of the fact that transferring police commissioners during election period is idiosyncratic of the Police Service Commission (PSC) but that the question is, ‘Why only Lagos and Ogun States?’
He wonders at the developments at the same time when there are insinuations there were possible plots of internal sabotage against the Party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima Mustapha
He said “Let’s hope there is nothing (internal sabotage) of such as we move into the last lap of the elections. I want to sincerely believe the relevant stakeholders within our Party hierarchy is watching the game as it is playing out already. Let’s remember that it will be foolhardy and a complete tommyrot to cry over a spilt milk.”
Copies of the petition were sent to President Buhari, the APC National Chairman, Vice Presidential Candidate, Shetima, former Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola,
The petition said Arase as a matter of fact, he was the Chairman, Security Sub-Committee of the PDP Convention held on October 30 and 31, 2021. Today, he is the new Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC) under an APC government. The PSC is the only agency constitutionally with the responsibility of transferring service police officers, the Commissioners of Police.
