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Chinedu Eze
A resounding endorsement has greeted President Tinubu’s appointment of Acting IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu as Nigeria’s 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police. The move has been hailed as a masterstroke, earning plaudit from security experts and citizens alike.
The appointment is being touted as a triumph of meritocracy, with Disu’s patriotism and expertise garnering widespread admiration. Security circles are abuzz with commendations, solidifying the President’s decision as a bold step in the right direction. His professional exploits span operational command, elite intelligence units, international peacekeeping, and administrative leadership.
The Nigeria Police Force has a longstanding tradition of retiring senior officers when a junior officer is appointed as Inspector-General of Police (IGP). This practice dates back to the era of the first indigenous IGP, Louis Edet, in 1964. A closer examination of 18 IGP appointments since 1981 reveals a consistent pattern, with Sunday Adewusi’s appointment in 1981 being a prime example. IGP Sunday Adewusi was promoted from Assistant Inspector General to IGP, with his seniors retiring quietly without controversy. Similarly, AIG Etim Inyang’s appointment in 1983 followed the same pattern, with seniors stepping aside without major drama.
Notably, out of the 18 appointments since 1981, only about three IGPs have risen from the rank of Deputy Inspector General, and even then, the tradition of retiring seniors was upheld. This precedent has been maintained across various administrations, with AIG Etim Inyang’s appointment in 1983 being another case in point.
Fortunately, Mr President knows Acting IGP Disu as an officer whose dedication to duty surpasses everything else.
As of October 21, 2013, Frank Mba and Tunji Disu were both Chief Superintendents of Police, but their seniority differed. Frank Mba was ranked 654 on the staff list, while Tunji Disu was ranked 118, indicating Disu’s higher seniority at the time. Frank Mba reportedly received accelerated promotions, moving from DCP to CP despite being junior to Tunji Disu. This followed earlier promotions from SP to CSP and ACP. These advancements put him on par with Disu, sparking concerns about fairness in the promotion process.
The current outcry appears to be the reaction of an entitled interest group—akin to a spoiled child accustomed to having every whim indulged. However, with national elections on the horizon, the Presidency is right to prefer a proven “Ops Commander”—a leader accustomed to coordinating large-scale deployments and executing intelligence-led policing.
Furthermore, we must address the long-held professional tradition within the Force: when a junior officer is elevated to the position of Inspector-General, their seniors are expected to step aside with dignity. This age-old tradition cannot be discarded simply to accommodate the ambitions of individuals whose contemporaries are still serving at the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.
It is deeply regrettable to witness the sponsorship of social media campaigns and newspaper publications designed to inject tribal sentiments and sow discord within the Force. Such maneuvers do not serve the national interest; rather, they are a regression to an old, divisive era of “playing the victim” to maintain the status quo. In this era of “Renewed Hope,” we must remain committed to meritocracy and institutional integrity.
Frank Mba’s rapid promotions have sparked controversy, with some questioning how he overtook Tunji Disu, who joined as a Cadet ASP with a BA in English. Mba, who started with O’Level, jumped seven years to match Disu’s rank, raising eyebrows.
Mba’s promotions were:
– ACP to DCP
– DCP to CP (two years later)
– CP to AIG
– AIG to DIG (three months later)
Disu, on the other hand, had an impressive operational track record, serving as:
– SARS Commander in Ondo, Oyo, and Rivers
– DPO in Elingbu and Elelenwo in Rivers State
– Head of RRS Lagos and IRT Abuja
– PSO to the past IGP,
– Commissioner of Police, Rivers State
– AIG Special Protection Unit (SPU), Force Headquarters, Abuja.
– AIG Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. Assistant —
Disu’s experience and seniority make Mba’s rapid ascent seem unusual
The choice of an officer with Tunji Disu’s background—spanning the elite Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID)—is exactly what the current climate necessitates. His career is a testament to successful high-stakes tactical operations and meticulous criminal investigations. We must prioritize the safety of Nigerians over the noise of online dissent.
