By: Admin
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), have welcome the directive of the police high command to withdraw police escorts from Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and religious leaders, saying that the directive was in the interest of the country.
They explained that men of God had always relied on the protection from God and not man to guarantee their security and safety.
The two bodies made their position known in a joint statement in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel attached to billionaire businessman, Emeka Offor, former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, many VIPs, clerics and companies across the country.
The directive affected 60 individuals, corporate and religious bodies, including the Christ Embassy, Think Nigeria First Initiative, Uche Sylva International, Stanel Groups, KYC Holding, among others.
Other persons on the IG’s list, included Sen Lado Yakubu, Yuguda Bashir, Uche Chukwu, Senator Borofice Ajayi, Mutiu Nicholas, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Edozie Madu, David Adesanya, Chris Giwa, Chief Godwin Ekpo, Chief Pius Akinyelure and others.
The letter with reference number CB: 4001/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.116/32 dated November 4, 2020, was addressed to Commissioners of Police, Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit and all Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by the IG.
The police boss had in a police wireless message dated October 21, 2020, addressed to all state commissioners of police, ordered them to immediately withdraw the personnel attached to VIPs, warning that “any commander who violates this order would bear the consequences.”
But in the latest directive signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, DCP Idowu Owohunwa, on November 4, the police authorities listed the names of VIPs affected by the withdrawal of orderlies.
The letter titled, “Immediate withdrawal of police personnel attached to unentitled corporate entities/individuals,” read in part, “The attention of the IGP has been drawn to the fact that the police personnel attached to the corporate bodies and personalities are yet to be withdrawn despite extant directives to that effect.
“In line with the subsisting order, the IG directs that you withdraw all the PMF, SPU, CTU, or conventional police operations attached to the affected companies or individuals in any of their locations across the country with immediate effect.”
But reacting, the CAN General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, noted that the directive would make the police to spread their net, adding that adequate security should be for all Nigerians and not for a segment of the country or some individuals.
Also, the National Publicity Secretary of PFN, Bishop Emmah Isong, pointed out that while the directive was understandable, announcing the withdrawal to the world has security implications.
Also, the immediate past Director (Legal and Public Affairs), CAN, Kwamkur Samuel, said, “Though the reason for the withdrawal of security personnel from some prominent Nigerians including senior clerics in Nigeria is undisclosed, the selective withdrawal of the personnel is a sign that something must have gone wrong in the relationship between the police force and the selected individuals.”
