The National Chairman of North East Youth and Elders Peoples Forum NEYEPF Alhaji Salihu Magaji has commended the Inspector General of Police kayode Egbetokun for rejecting the ongoing police constable recruitment that was marred by alleged corruption and irregularities.
Magaji stated this in Bauchi when he addressed a press conference, said that those calling for the sack of IGP are self centered people who are alleging that the IGP rejection of police recruitment was a plot to cover the allegations raised over the conduct of the exercise.
” Any patriotic citizen, once strong allegations are made and by a personality in the likes of IGP makes a decision in that direction, he deserves to be respected, listened to as well as take steps to address the anomalies he has observed in the interest of Nigeria and ensure the hitch free success of the exercise
"those calling for the sack of the IGP are “self centered people who are saying all these to cover the allegations raised over the conduct of the exercise.”
He also said that the IGP, before he raised alarm and called for a review, he must have received series of complaints and allegations of corruption raised by unsuspecting candidates and stakeholders on the irregularities that marred the exercise most especially the disappearance of the names of screened candidates who were successful to the last stage.
According to him, ””the PSC portal was subsequently scrutinised and it was discovered that several names of persons purported to be names of successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in the recruitment exercise.”
He also said that the published list also contained several names of candidates who “failed either the computer-based test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise or both”.
Salihu Magaji said that not even the IGP who reacted without prejudice to the power of the Commission to recruit for the police as ruled by the Supreme court but this power does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the Police.
He stressed that, “No patriotic Nigerian will allow this to happen except if he doesnt have the way to call for the review or order to help the country to have credible and professional Police personnel.”
The NEYEPF Chairman said that instead of them to put the interest of the country before any other interest and support for a “total review of the process with a view to recruiting qualified, competent, trainable and productive hands that will serve the country better, they turned to unpatriotic activities by calling for the sack of the IGP for telling the truth. Their action is unpatriotic, and it becomes clear suspicion that there is something they want to hide.”
He urged President Bola Ahmad Tinubu to order for a thorough investigation in to the entire exercise and punish who ever is found wanting.
“If majority of the members have their hands not clean, Mr President should evacuate all of them from the Commission and replace them, he should punish the offenders according to their offences and transfer the remaining to other Ministries.”
Salihu Magaji said that the President should also reward IGP for refusing to accept unqualified newly recruited Policemen into the Force, because his action has protected the integrity of the Police.
He then commended the IGP for his efforts to provide internal security by protecting lives and properties of citizens through commitment and exemplary leadership style he is exhibiting.
