Community Policing: S’ East govs makes U-turn, reach truce with IGP Adamu on guidelines, selection
Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Governors of the South East geo-political zone of the country, comprising Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states, have rescinded their earlier rejection of community policing proposed by Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu.
Addressing newsmen at the end of a two-hour visual/teleconference meeting, on Wednesday, chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebony State, Engr. David Umahi, said that the meeting centered on the outcome of their Enugu meeting held on Sunday, May 24.
Governor Umahi announced that the meeting had in attendance Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Willy Obiano of Anambra State and Hope Uzordinma of Imo State, respectively.
He said that the meeting resolved that various security apparatuses at local governments and communities be allowed to be the ones involved in the community policing.
According to him, “We were the first governors and Leaders of Thought to accept community policing because of the beautiful ingredients of community policing enunciated by the IGP.
“There was no disagreement with community policing at community levels.
“We saw that the IGP idea of community policing could assist us and when the CPs made a mistake by going to do the composition by themselves and asked the governors to do the inauguration, we knew that something was wrong.”
The south east governors said that IGP Adamu assured them that it was the entirety of the governors and stakeholders to handle the selection.
Also in attendance at the meeting were the President of Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, leaders of the South-East Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Obi of Onitsha, Chief Nnaemeka Achebe , chairmen of traditional rulers in the zone and Chairman of Joint Security Committee in the region among others.
