AN OPEN LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, MR. SOLOMON ARASE.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE, MR. SOLOMON ARASE.

BY GREATER VIRTUE FOR TRAFFIC WATCH & DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

THE HUMAN-RIGHTS NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.

Sir,

WORKING WITH WISDOM, HONESTY, PATRIOTICISM, HARMONY AND SACRIFICE IN PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY AS TOOLS FOR BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE NATION.

THE NEED TO CREATE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TRAFFIC WARDEN SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT.

With due regards I write on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the above-named Non-Governmental Organization and the proponent of Traffic Warden Service deserving emancipation; to crave the indulgence of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase over the need to create an environment of operation for the Traffic Warden Service (TWS) in the Public Service. No doubt, it would sound quite unusual for the IGP to receive such an unexpected missive from an opposing group that is passionate and transparent in her activities; seeking for national coherence, the way forward and a nation that is corruption-free and where our collective wealth would be judiciously coordinated and properly managed, to the advantage of the citizenry.

If that sound palatable then, no matter how this letter may sound, I pray you to apply leadership, knowledge, wisdom, honesty, patriotism, harmony and sacrifice and build in you the shocks to absorb the “fallacy” and/or the “nonsense” that may be suggested here as what we need as responsible and learned Leaders, if we have to dare discuss and make input in nation building discourse, bearing in mind that, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. It is not in our character to undermine anyone per se. We respect people as protocol demands but we would not fail in our duty to point out and expose their excesses. The truth is bitter.

 

The IGP would candidly agree with the superior argument that, there is every need for the government to create job opening. We also need to collectively support the government to create the necessary job opportunities within, to engage our idle and vulnerable youths into something doing and focused; to curb waste talent, hunger, restiveness, crime and frustration, rather than take solace in running after them when they take to criminality to satisfy their needs. ‘A stitch in time saves nine’. Nigeria Police cannot tell us they are not aware of the challenges of unemployment in the society and the plight Nigerians are passing through. It is rather shameful and discourteous for the Police to continue making herself an anti-development propagandist and a stumbling block opposing government plans to create jobs through the Traffic Warden Service and, the nation’s road traffic subsector, owing to Police selfish interest and glutinous greed. It is very unfortunate that, in Nigeria, we have always failed to nib our problems at the bud stage. Later when the problem escalates, growing branches, it is then we run helter-skelter searching for solutions that are rather belated. Medicine after death.

Our believe is that, the incumbent IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase is a salient man of letters, a listening leader and from that background we have noticed with a sense of humour, the man in Mr. Solomon Arase. Perhaps if not for the pressure that do come from other Members of Nigeria Police hierarchy, with myopic views, the incumbent IGP is set to effectively reform and change the Nigeria Police to a world-class security Agency.

Nevertheless, we implore IGP Solomon Arase having displayed the qualities of a responsible, humourous and wonderful Leader, we earnestly feel, there is one issue that remained controversial and unsettled. It is the question of the Traffic Warden Service (an Establishment under an Establishment) and, the Traffic Wardens that the Nigeria Police have inexplicably remained resolute and indifference about, not willing to do justice to these set of Public Servants. What is their crime and is it the place of Nigeria Police to unilaterally take decisions affecting Traffic Wardens without the knowledge of the Federal government? Recognizing the realities that, Traffic Wardens are Federal Government Employees and NOT Nigeria Police Employees.

We have to draw the attention of IGP Solomon Arase as the Police Boss, to emulate the exemplary humility of the former President of South Africa, Mr. Fredrick De’Clerk. In-spite of what the Whites were gaining, the exalted positions the Whites were occupying and enjoying in South Africa then and what they were going to lose, President Fredrick De’Clerk bowed to majority opinion, to free late Dr. Nelson Mandela, against all odds. He sacrificed. Mr. Fredrick De’Clerk later accepted to hold the Office of the Vice President, with Dr. Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. Such was a clear demonstration of sacrifice, humility, coherence, honesty, education and tolerance in display. That singular movement finally dismantled racism and apartheid experience in that land. Back home, our own former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, at the last count of votes cast in 2015 Presidential election, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had whatever power he needed as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the nation that moment, to cancel that unfavourable election, but he gave it a second thought against all odds, to allow Nigeria to move forward. He sacrificed. He made history to himself.

IGP Solomon Arase, no matter Billions the Police have been garnering and gaining from the road traffic subsector to themselves, we urge you to create that exemplary action, like Mr. Fredrick De’Clerk, like Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to soft-pedal and allow the right thing to be done on the Traffic Warden Service; to enable government create mass employment for our vulnerable youths through the Traffic Warden Service. Create history and good image for yourself.

It is very unfortunate that, Nigeria parades a lot of people who claimed to have been to or acquired all manner of Certificates that portrays them as highly educated personalities. But by the time one take a cursory observation at the way these persons reasons, make input, their reactions and response to issues and policies, you discover that they lack common knowledge or vision. The man who ordinarily never got nearer to a school all his life tend to reason far better at his level than those claiming to have acquired all strata of qualifications. IGP Solomon Arase, you are surrounded by such unrefined/retarded minds. Most Police Officers have by their overweening and subconscious characters painted the Nigeria Police black and presented the Police in bad light that cannot be over-emphasized. Don’t let them push you. Use your discretion as a learned fellow on Traffic Warden Service matter now at the National Assembly. It is a delicate matter.

This peculiar NGO had been around the Traffic Wardens for quite a long time, studying the whole situation and Traffic Wardens’ unfortunate predicament under the Nigeria Police unilateral House of bondage. We discovered that, the Police are heartless, myopic, greedy, desperate and self-destructive. The Police have no fear of God at the back of their minds. The Police are inhuman.

From the compendium of our study and observations, we have a lot of substantiated evidence to nail the Nigeria Police both on Police involvement in massive corruption, duping the nation of accruable revenue, economic sabotage, rebellion, contemptuous insubordination, lawlessness and contending power with constituted authority and, Police unilateral human-rights abuse, oppression, severe victimization and  humiliation, casusalization, promotion of inequality, segregation and undue marginalization against Traffic Wardens and the unwarranted relegation of Traffic Wardens to the background without any form of development; stagnation, slow promotion; Warden Officers are not given Appointment and Office. The Police discourteous blocking of every available opportunity opens for Traffic Wardens to enhance their potentials in the Police institution particularly and the Public Service in general. Why? Are such Police unilateral, intractable and illegal actions fair? OUTRIGHTLY CHEATING ON TRAFFIC WARDENS. Such is quite outrageous and uncalled for if most Members of Nigeria Police were to really understand the rudiments of education, human development and co-existence. 

We think the Police don’t have such right whatsoever unilaterally maltreating and/or subjecting Traffic Wardens to suffer such irreparable damages and irretrievable losses in their career and in the Public Service. Such Police improprieties against Traffic Wardens are illegal and unfair in its entire ramification. These matters are already in public domain.

Agree that, the Police want to remain part of the road traffic subsector, such could have been done with caution and diplomacy, by carefully carrying Traffic Wardens along, give them a place and create equal opportunity, create a level playing ground for both Personnel to compete and by today we wouldn’t be talking about de-merge or separation. Inversely, the Police rather applied highhandedness, winners-take-all attitude, pride, arrogance, nonchalant attitude and pretention to jettison the Wardens; to register Police disapproval of the Traffic Warden Service establishment. The Police were from the beginning not comfortable with the establishment of the Traffic Warden Service. The Police saw Traffic Wardens as perceive threat, coming to take-over “their job” on the road. That was why the Police did the manipulations to have Traffic Wardens conscripted under the Police, to allow the Police to remain on the road traffic function and continue what they know how to do best, EXTORTION. The Nigeria Police no longer have absolute right over the road traffic control.

It is no longer a secret that, Traffic Wardens are the Custodians of the road traffic control function. The Traffic Warden Service was created for that purpose. The Police merely influenced and made the Traffic Warden Service and her Personnel to be unconscionably conscripted to come under the Police, owing to Police vested interest and what they have been gaining to themselves from the road.

 Conscripting Traffic Wardens under the Nigeria Police was NOT the original purpose for which the Traffic Warden Service was established. The Police quite knew that, the Traffic Warden Service is NOT an establishment of Nigeria Police. The Police made Wardens victims of circumstances, because there had been no proper supervision on Nigeria Police activities. We cannot in anyway compare the establishment of the Traffic Warden Service with that of Spy and Superneumary Police that are well cared for in the Police institution.

 

‘Those who come to equity must come with clean hands’. If there is no hidden agenda the Police are nursing against Traffic Wardens, why would the Police rather regard, prefer and value untrained State Traffic Management Agencies than the Traffic Warden Service? It is glaring that the Police extremely dislike Traffic Wardens. It is also glaring that, the Police neglects, abandon, shows no commitment but exhibits laxity on the road traffic function. The Police are not interested in doing the practical job of traffic control in the States of the federation accept in the FCT. The Police failed to come out and tell the Federal Government that the Police are unable to cope with the job of road traffic control function but hypocritically allowed the State Governments the leverage to set-up untrained traffic Agencies to take-over the function. While the Police pretend to play the Supervisory role to these States traffic Agencies. 

The Police equally deprived, disallowed, blocked and/or refused to groom or give Traffic Wardens the same leverage to properly handle the road traffic function that they are recruited and trained to perform for the nation. The roads are constantly in chaotic traffic gridlocks, blocked and short of well-trained Traffic Control Personnel to manage the situations. The Police, in their hidden agenda deliberately failed to recruit enough Traffic Wardens to do the job. For God’s sake, What are the Police insinuating? Where is the place of Traffic Wardens in the Public Service? Nigerians are not blind to such conspicuous Police unilateral actions. Such is rebellion and sabotage. The Police are not above criticism. What is bad is bad. The matter would be thrown to public debate. The Police cannot be forcing themselves on a function that they have demonstrated shoddiness, laxity, lack of commitment and failed abysmally.

After inflicting such terrible and indelible damages in the career of Traffic Wardens; created an incompatible working relationship with Traffic Wardens, the Police are brazenly asking the National Assembly to allow them continue to retain Traffic Wardens. The Police want Nigerians to believe that, there are no elements of sabotage and hypocritical connotation in such Police unprincipled inactions. Such cannot be accepted. 

It has to be made abundantly clear here that, Police agitations to retain Traffic Wardens and the road traffic function is mere pretence, deceit, frivolous, hypocritical, unfounded and of no effect. The Police have nothing to offer Traffic Wardens and/or the road traffic subsector. The Police caused Traffic Wardens to lose their respect, dignity and pride. The Police agenda is to unilaterally fizzle out the Traffic Warden Service, mess-up the function, while she continues to silently perpetrate her Personnel on illegal extortion tendency on the road. What the Police are garnering and sharing amongst themselves from the road has made the Police to misplace their sense of moral judgment. Such fraudulent and illegal extortion can no longer be condoned. The Federal Government is set to recover and effectively coordinate the Goldmine that the Police have been digging illegally from the road traffic subsector to themselves, remitting nothing into Government Coffers, for over four decades. That should serve as a warning to Nigeria Police. We all have to learn to do what is right and just too to all concern in the country and assist the government to fight such glaring conspiracy and endemic corruption. The Nigeria Police has to be compelled to obey laws and made to come off such supercilious lawlessness, indiscipline and unilateral obduracy. This is democracy. Some Nigerians cannot be treated like plebeians in the society. We cannot imagine Traffic Wardens being treated as foreigners or as Outcasts.

It is very unfortunate that, it is at your tenure as the IGP that the question of separating the Traffic Warden Service from Nigeria Police is coming-up in the National Assembly. The Police have no choice. Nothing last forever. Whatever has a beginning certainly must have an end. The struggle to make Nigeria a strong, virile, viable and an enviable socio-economy is a synergy, a collective collaboration of the various subsectors certainly beyond the Police Organization alone. 

The Road Traffic Control Function is sprawling, demanding and specialized function, a Goldmine that requires to be given scientific conscious attention it deserves in the scheme of things. The function should no longer be allowed to be stage-managed or shared by two separate Establishments. The Traffic Warden Service is the rightful Agency established to handle the intra-city Road Traffic Control Function, as her primary function. The Police should focus her manpower in Crime Prevention, Security of Lives and Properties and Prosecution that is also a demanding function. No criss-crossing. Every Establishment to her function, to promote division of labour, specialization and professionalism in the nation’s Paramilitary Organizations.

We want to use this medium to advice IGP Solomon Arase to humbly withdraw his men from the road traffic control function upon the passage of the popular Traffic Warden Service Bill as an Act of the National Assembly. No confrontations. Allow sleeping dogs to lie quietly. There is no point contesting the Bill. This is because, when the Police insist on such frivolous and unfounded agitations to retain Traffic Wardens or the road traffic function, the NGO has a lot of substantiated evidence that are beyond the Committee. We may not wish the authority to wade the axe of anti-corruption on the Police and/or on the incumbent IGP. Invariably, time has come for Nigeria Police to quietly resolve her House and pull out of the issue of the Traffic Warden Service de-merge with the National Assembly. It is a delicate and a  bitter pill for Nigeria Police especially in the era of President Mohammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade and the CHANGE mantra. The law is no respecter of anyone. The Police are not above the law or above criticism. We would not want the Nigeria Police to be messed up. The Police should respect her institution, accept defeat and take heart. The Traffic Warden Service Bill is about public interest. Public interest overrides individual, personal, IGP’s and Police interest.

We would also want the Police to realize that, the Traffic Warden Service is now an autonomous Paramilitary Organization already (ref: The Court of Appeal judgment. CA/K/112/99) of the year 2000. Hence the Police failed to challenge the Court of Appeal judgment at the Supreme Court within the time allowed. There is nothing anyone can do to change that judgment. Influencing anyone with monetary inducement to drop the Bill is a sheer waste of tax-payers’ money. Such cannot help the Police this time around. Police Lawyers should know better. The whole world must hear such Nigeria Police unilateral rebellion on the nation’s economy and human-rights abuse and social injustice done to Traffic Wardens. The Police cup is full. That judgment has to be enforced. The rule of law must take its course. It may be a hard decision for Nigeria Police to take but certainly it is the wisest decision to take at this point. The hard way is the only way.

The NGO is not out to fight Nigeria Police per se. Our mission is to correct the social ills; the fraudulence and the deception practiced by Nigeria Police on the road; depriving and duping government of accruable revenue and our collective wealth all this while, that is detrimental to the nation’s economy; correct the inequality, apartheid and the social injustice discovered and persistently practiced within the Police institution, that is obviously inimical and totally against the norms of human fairness, as meted out to Traffic Wardens in the Police institution. Behaviours that violates individual freedom, behaviours that oppresses and erode the rights of persons and against international human-rights standard. The Police should be grateful to the NGO for thinking for her. It is the responsibility of the Police to advice the three tiers of government to always create opportunity for job creation, to get our hungry youths engaged into something doing, to disabuse their minds from criminality. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop’. The NGO thus need the warm support and cooperation of Nigeria Police, to achieve these objectives and make the Public Service a conducive working environment for all, where no one is oppressed. The country belongs to all of us as true Nigerians. The Traffic Warden Service has come to stay.

God Bless you, Mr. Solomon Arase, IGP.                                                                       

       Signed: JK. Johnsonapla Esq  

      for and on behalf of the NGO