Suleiman Abba, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, September 10, declared that he is running for a seat in the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abba is to contest for the Jigawa central senatorial district currently occupied by Sabo Muhammed Nakudu.
The Punch reports that Abba picked his nomination and expression of interest forms at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja.
After the exercise, he reportedly told journalists that he was in the race to bring quality representation for his people as well as contribute meaningfully to national development.
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NAIJ.com recalls that it was under Suleiman Abba that the police raided the National Assembly in 2014 in the heat of the mass defection that hit the PDP.
The police also fired teargas making the lawmakers scale the fence to escape.
When he was asked on Monday, September 10, concerning his reaction over the latest siege on the National Assembly by the DSS, he said: “Personally I have not seen where anybody has praised any of those actions you mentioned.
“Let me also say that in all the cases you mentioned, investigation are being conducted and even before the end of this investigation, some form of punishment have been taken on those involved so I think it’s not a matter for me to comment further on.”
Asked what he thinks about Ibrahim Idris’ refusal to honour the National Assembly’s summon, he said: “I will certainly advise the IGP to respond by going there. I don’t think in any situation there is a better person to defend you than yourself.
“Of course we have lawyers who present the interest of their client but in all situation, this is my personal belief, your personal defence is always better.
“I had always appeared before the Senate whenever they needed me. Even at a time when everybody thought differently, I appeared before a committee of a Senate to make a clear presentation of what the situation was and I think it went on fine.”
Concerning the cry for state police, he said: “From experience and from what we are seeing the state government going through with regards to payment of salaries, payments of pensioners, even paying or taking care of qualitative education for our children and considering the fact that policing is a very expensive business, you need to know the cost of ordinary helmet for a police man talk less of the protective jackets.
“These are very expensive issues. Ordinary gadgets of SPNH, gadgets for monitoring, are very very expensive and if the states cannot pay salaries, another important aspect of the socio-economic development of their communities, then how and why are they looking forward to shouldering this very big burden?
“And that’s why I have the feeling and I don’t hide it, perhaps some people are looking for another opportunity to compound the security problems of this country.
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“While I was at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in 2009, I was assigned to conduct research on discipline in the Nigeria police. During the period and looking at the performances of the police from what the research presented to me, I realised that yes, there is the need perhaps to take another look at the structure of the police.
“I have nothing against state police like I said, having recommended it in writing far back even when it wasn’t a serious issue in this country. But I think at this stage, it looks as if some people are trying to look for what they can use to compound the security situation of this country. Maybe we can continue talking about it. We can continue fine-tuning it but I am not sure this is the right time."
NAIJ.com earlier reported that Senator Patricia Akwashiki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, September 7, in Abuja, expressed optimism that a female governor would emerge in Nigeria during the 2019 general elections.
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Source: Naija.ng
