Pressure Mounts on Buhari to Replace IGP, Solomon Arase in Less Than a Week

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase

President Muhammadu Buhari is in a hot search for a viable replacement for the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase who is currently on his way out of office due to retirement.

Reports from New Telegraph have it that President Muhammadu Buhari is currently scouting for a strong candidate from the Nigerian police force to fill into the boots of the retiring Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

Solomon Arase who was born on the 21st of June in 1956 is set to retire as he clocks 60 years which is the official retirement age from service in Nigeria.

It was however gathered from highly placed sources that President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure from about three different interests, who are pushing forward their preferred choices.

While two of the forces are rooting for two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), the other interest, which is said to be the most powerful, is projecting the candidacy of a serving Commissioner of Police (CP) from the North, who is holding a command position in a strategic state.

This is as there is uncertainty over the fate of seven Deputy Inspectors- General of Police (DIGs), who constitute the Police Management Team (PMT), which has the IGP as head. Already, those jostling for Arase’s position now spend more time in Abuja lobbying some powerful forces in and outside the government.

According to a source, who spoke with New Telegraph in confidence, the groups mounting pressure on the president are articulating the operational capabilities of their choices. This, he noted, was because Buhari wants a very competent successor to Arase who, many believe, would have achieved a lot, at the end of his tenure. “It is true that there are about three interests making separate cases for their preferred choices, who have showed good operational capabilities to lead the NPF.

“Out of the groups, one is pushing for the appointment of a very competent CP, while the other two are making cases for two AIGs. “But, I think the president knows what he wants, and as an upright, disciplined and firm man, he will get the best,” the source said.

An earlier investigation had revealed that one of the DIGs was being considered, considering the fact that none of the service or security chiefs, comes from his zone.