Police Plum Postings To Bayelsa, Two CPs in 48 Hours Gives Confusing Signals
The Oasis Reporters
July 25, 2018
In Police parlance, any posting to a state whose spelling begins with ‘B’ can lead to trembling of the heart or the twisting of the feet in a dance of joy. Bornu or Bauchi does not call for an immediate dance or rapid movement, if you are a Commissioner.
But just let your ‘B’, be Bayelsa, and no Police Commissioner would linger a second longer before reporting for duty.
Bayelsa is Plum. You don’t deadly religious extremists to pursue in Police and outlaws chase of crime. What you have are fat cat Oil executives to protect, and that’s where all the mega millions are.
But this time, there’s mounting confusion within the ranks of the Bayelsa State Police Command following the removal of Mr. Don Awunah as Commissioner of Police and the deployment of two Commissioners to succeed him within 48 hours.
The redeployed Police Commissioner, Don Awunah is described as one of the most functional police commissioner with numerous successes recorded in the area of strategic policing.
The issue of his successor is however bringing confusion with the deployment of Police Commissioner, Joseph Mokain on Monday to succeed Don Awunah. Just before he could settle down to an exciting time visiting formations under his Command including billion dollar oil exploration companies, another Police Commissioner, Mohammed Bello was deployed on Tuesday for the same duty.
So, what’s going on?
Naija Live TV says the confusion created was attributed to a power play between Governor Seriake Dickson and the former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Sources claimed that the arrival of Mr. Joseph Mokain, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police,( Administration) at the Bayelsa Police Command, was not in the good books of the State Governor,Hon. Seriake Dickson.
It was gathered that Police Commissioner, Joseph Mokain,was accused of frustrating PDP elections moves during the 2016 Governorship election eventually won by the PDP.
The deployment of Mr. Mohammed Bello, as new Police Commissioner, few hours after the arrival of Joseph Mokain, was reportedly made after the condolence visit of the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris over the death of former IG, Ibrahim Commaise.
Mr. Mohammed Bello, was reported to have also served as Deputy Commissioner at the State Police Command and Commander of the State Security apparatus known as Door Akpoor.
Bello is yet to report to the Bayelsa Command reportedly due to his unfinished assignment in Ekiti State. Mr. Joseph Mokain was however reported to have assumed duty on Tuesday at the State Police command.
The Statement from the Bayelsa Government House indicated that Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State’s visit was ostensibly to commiserate with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on the death of former IGP, Ibrahim Coomassie.
Governor Dickson was quoted during the visit describing the late IGP as one of the finest in the history of policing in Nigeria.
While praying God for the repose of his soul, Dickson, who himself was a police officer, also prayed God to give the police and his family the fortitude to bear the loss, which, he said, is clearly irredeemable.
The statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, quoted Dickson as having made the remarks yesterday when he paid a condolence visit on Idris at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris thanked Dickson for the visit and commended him for being a good ambassador of the Nigeria Police.
Piecing together all the dots would reveal some interesting facts analytically. First, Mokain and Bello have done duties on the Bayelsa beat. They chose to return there, because they know the terrain sufficiently. Whereas Nigeria has 35 other States they could have been posted to.
Governor Dickson knows both of them very closely, and as a cop himself, he can analyze them both, in-depth and may therefore know what to whisper to his former beat IGP, all in esprit de corps.
