By Our Correspondents

Some leaders of the South South and the South East geo-political zones, have expressed bitterness over the lopsided deployment of Commissioners of Police (CPs) to state commands.

The SUPREME reported on Monday March 31st 2025, that, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and the Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC), retired DIG Hashimu Argungu failed to comply with the Police Act and the Federal Character, in deploying Commissioners of Police (CPs) to state commands.

Our story titled: Tribalism Rocks Police, IGP Egbetokun, PSC Chair, Argungu In Trouble, exposed how Egbetokun and Arugungu sidelined Police Commissioners from the two geo-political zones in recent postings.

Former Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga lamented the deliberate marginalisation of his South East kinsmen.

Edeoga who recently decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) told The SUPREME on phone that, the marginalisation by Egbetokun and Arugungu is an aberration. “Laws are made to be obeyed. If the Police Act says something this is the rule, why should somebody go against it? They should comply with the law for peace to rain. Leadership is to ensure peace in every part of a country, or state or in a community. They should not forget that the one on the top will not remain there forever.

The Secretary of the Commission, (Chief Onyemuche Nnamani), is an lbo man from Enugu, what is he doing there?Has he compromised,? he queried.
Edeoga however, urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the “needful is done.”

One of the former IGPs who does not want his name in print, noted that, “there are 19 states in the North and, if they are given 23 CPs, is not too bad. But if a whole zone is given one CP, then there is reason for an argument.”

Also speaking with The SUPREME on phone, a lecturer in one of the Universities in the South South, Professor Chris Akpotu fumed at the marginalisation of CPs from the regions.

Prof Akpotu who is also President-General of Isoko ethnic nationality in the South South, stressed that, “at this critical time Mr President should act fast on this matter.

The injustice needs urgent attention for the sake of peace. Even for political balancing, the two regions should be given fair treatment.
The two regions are (integral) part of the country. Federal character should be put into cognisance in addressing issues like this. For peace and equity, if possible, the IGP and the Police Commission should drop some CPs and appoint more from the regions to ensure Federal character is taken into cognisance, let them do so.”

The SUPREME reliably learnt that, one of the current Ministers from one of the Zones (names with held) while reacting to our Monday story on the marginalisation of CPs from the regions, said, “this is very sad.”

Also expressing bitterness over the marginalisation of Commissioners of Police from the regions, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Oil Producing And Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Honourable Askia Ogieh urged President Bola Tinubu to take a decisive intervention to correct the injustice. “The Constitution of the country binds us the six geo-political Zones as a country
And when giving appointments Federal Character should be put into consideration.
South South is where oil and gas is coming from, which is the major revenue of the country. Yet, we do not have control of our own God given natural resources.

God has blessed each zone with natural resources, if God can be so good to distribute wealth equitably, why not we humans?
For security and peace there should be equitable distribution of appointments in every zone. Every state should be given a CP.
When you confine an officer to a particular area the officer may not be able to bring out the talent in him.

Our Correspondents report that, a governor from the South South and a former governor also from the South South have been alerted of the marginalisation of CPs from their Zone. Similarly, a governor in the South East is said to have also been alerted on the marginalisation of police officers from his zone.

Our Correspondents also report that, a top River State man (names with held) frowned at the marginalisation of the police officers from the region. He jeered at Neyson Wike, saying that, “he (Wike) wants to enslave his people, hope he has read what the APC government he is supporting is marginalising his people, without considering Federal Character.”‘

Recent information reaching our news desk reveal that, one particula state in the North has three Commissioners of Police heading three states, while South East zone of five states has only one CP heading a state.

Ironically, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) from the South West, who retired last year 2024 (names with held) made a disgusting comment on our last story.

In a WhatsApp reaction to our Editor, he said the Commissioners of Police from the South South and South East are incompetent. His words:
“Can anyone force the IGP to post professionally incompetent officers to commands and allow insecurity to fester in the spirit of geopolitical balancing? Haba!!! It doesn’t add up at all.”

Serving and retired officers from the two Zones who spoke to The SUPREME condemned the comment of the DIG. And asked him to apologise to officers from the two regions.
One of them noted that, “,it was the same geo-political balancing that catapulted him to DIG rank.” Another officer challenged him to “prove his competence when he was a command CP.”

The Police Act Chapter 12 (2) stipulates that “the Police Service Commission shall among the Commissioners of Police (CPs) appointed under subsection (I) assign Commissioner of Police to state commands and to the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT).”

In the same vein, number 12 (4) also stipulates that,
“The Police Service Commission or the Inspector-General of Police in assigning or deploying, as the case may be, Commissioners of Police under this Section to Stare Commands , Departments or Units, shall reflect the principle of Federal Character as provided in the Constitution and under the relevant Act.”

However, in total disregard to the rules and regulations of the Police Act, Argungu and Egbetokun deployed CPs from the South West to about 10 states of the Federation. And 23 from the North heading 23 state commands. While South South has only two CPs heading two state commands. South East has only one CP heading a state command.

The lopsided deployments of the Commissioners of Police by IGP Egbetokun from the South West and PSC Chairman, DIG Argungu from the Northern part of the country, is said to be giving people from the two aggrieved regions sober feelings that, President Bola Tinubu’s government is tilting to a regional government.

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