Encomium
-as wife delivers baby boy in United States
The tenure of Mohammed Abubakar as the Inspector General of Police ends on Thursday, July 31, 2014, and he may not get an extension even as he has reportedly applied for such. Police source revealed that it is very rare for a serving Inspector General of Police to get an extension at the expiration of his term and if that stays Abubakar will be leaving the force. The only condition that will work in his favour to stay on is if the Presidency wants him to supervise the 2015 general elections.
President Jonathan is said to be satisfied with Abubakar’s performance and will not want him to go in a hurry until after the general elections in 2015, though intense lobbying is currently going on in Abuja for the police top job. IGP Abubakar an indigene of Zamfara state joined the Nigeria Police Force July 30, 1979 and is due for retirement in July 2014, that is 35 years of meritorious service to the nation. He was appointed acting IGP in January 2012, and was confirmed in July 2012. Police PRO, Frank Mba said we should watch out whether IGP Abubakar will leave or not during the week.
Meanwhile, as the IGP Mohammed Abubakar looks forward to what becomes his fate this week, he is excited as his new wife Zarah Bunu 36 just gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, in Atlanta, USA. The police boss is presently in the US to see his wife and latest arrival. Interestingly the baby arrived 10 months after the couple tied the knots in Abuja FCT. The Saturday, September 14, 2013, wedding was witnessed by society and political top shots. It is the IG’s second shot at matrimony barely two years after he lost his first wife, Hajia Maryam Abubakar. Maryam Abubakar passed on in the morning of January 30, 2013, less than a week he (Abubakar) assumed office as Acting Inspector General of Police. Hajia Maryam, 48, reportedly died of complications from a protracted battle with cancer. She died at the family house of the Abubakars at Gandun Albasa Quarters in Kano and was buried at Taranun Cemetery. Abubakar, 56 was previously married to two wives. He divorced his second wife about three years ago leaving behind his first wife, Maryam, who died in 2011. Mohammed Abubakar presently fathers four children. The first, a male, Jamilu, 26, the other two are females and now the latest arrival.
THOSE JOSTLING TO BE IG
As intense lobbying goes on for the position of the nation’s Inspector General of Police, these names are a recurring decimal among them all.
c: He is the most senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and stands in good position to take over from Abubakar.
He is currently in charge of the Administration Department of the force. Fakai, who hails from Kebbi State, joined the Force in 1984, as a Cadet ASP, and is scheduled to retire in 2019. He was promoted to DIG in February 2012. He was the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge Zone 3, AIG Zone 5, Benin, AIG Force Secretary and AIG Zone 2, Lagos. He was also the Commissioner of Police Osun state. He is married to Hajia Bilikisu and they are blessed with six children.
He is said to boast of a clean record and exceptional performance in all of the assignments he had handled over the years. He has also worked closely with the former IGPs and hence, has an in-depth understanding of the workings of the office.
SOLOMON ARASE: He is in charge of Force Criminal Intelligence Bureau (FCIB), the apex of intelligence gathering in the Force and is the only arm of the force that provides intelligence on crime and national security. Before Mr. Arase became the AIG FCIB, he was the Commissioner of police in Akwa-Ibom State, and a onetime deputy commissioner of police in charge of Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
MAMAN TSAFE: On the list of those jostling for the top job is the AIG Zone 2, Lagos State, Maman Tsafe.
JOSEPH MBU: The former Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu is also tipped to occupy the top post of IGP. His closeness to the presidency, especially the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan might skyrocket him to the coveted position.
UMAR MANKO: On the list also is Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko. Manko has made headlines with the command’s outstanding performance in crime fighting in 2013. The accomplishment has been celebrated with commendation and awards from the state government and the Presidency. Mr. Manko is from Niger State and is said to be number three on the list of senior police officers.
-FOLUSO SAMUEL
