The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has dismissed the worries expressed by the opposition over possible extension of the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Abubakar, by President Mohammadu Buhari.
Mohhamed said the agitation was meaningless as the President was constitutionally empowered to extend the tenure.
At a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Mohammed said, “When you are drowning, you grab any floating object you can find. You even grab at straws. That’s what the PDP is doing with the issue of the IGP’s tenure.
“In the first instance, it is the prerogative of Mr President to extend or not to extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police or any service chief. That prerogative cannot be taken from Mr President on the altar of paranoia by some people.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his time, extended the tenure of Mr Sunday Ehindero as IGP. Was there no opposition party then? Also, in his time, President Umaru Yar’Ardua extended the tenure of Mr Mike Okiro as IGP, heavens didn’t fall.
“I have read that some opposition parties are planning a series of nationwide protests on the issue of IG’s tenure. That’s purely within their right in a democracy. And I wish them the best of luck.”
