The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDE), the apex socio-cultural body of the Niger Delta people, has condemned the removal of Dr Solomon Arase as the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
In a statement signed by the National Chairman of the group, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE, the move by President Bola Tinubu, was not well calculated.
Raising concerns over the removal of the former Inspector General of Police, which occurred on Monday, 10th June 2024, the group described it as unwarranted, and an unnecessary provocation that reflects negatively on Tinubu’s administration.
The group further indicated that the president has no regard for Nigeria’s laws which he swore to uphold and protect.
“This singular act further portrays this administration as one that does not prioritize competence, integrity, and efficiency; sacrificing merit on the altar of favoritism.
“The question arises as to why any serious government would dismiss a personality like Solomon Arase, who had initiated positive reforms and improvements at the Commission, and given his meritorious track record as a diligent police officer, who rose through the ranks to become the 18th Inspector General of Police of the Nigeria Police Force and retired with dignity,” the statement read partly.
PANDEF further backed his anger with the constitution, noting that Arase only spent 16 months out of the four-year term the law entrusts in his hands.
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Citing the details for the conditions for removal from office of a PSC chairman, PANDEF said, “According to Section 3, subsection (1)a of the Police Service Commission Act 2002, subject to the provisions of Section 4 of the Act, a member of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall each hold office for a term of four years and no more.
“(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act, a person shall cease to hold office as a member of the Commission if –
(a) He becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or(b) he is convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty of fraud; or (c) He becomes of unsound mind, or is incapable of carrying out his duties; or (d) He is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties; or (e) In the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is disqualified or suspended, other than at his own request, from practicing his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made in respect of that member.
“(2) A member of the Commission may be removed by the President if he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Commission or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.
“5 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 of this Act, the Chairman and any other member, may at any time be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause of misconduct).”
The group further asked the question, “What warranted Solomon Arase’s removal from office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?”
Advising the president to reinstate Arase, PANDEF recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari retained Mike Okiro as PSC chairman despite that he was appointed by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan.
