THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN THE RE BRANDING NIGERIA PROJECT.

THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN THE RE BRANDING NIGERIA PROJECT.

I wonder what the society will be like without the police command. Their roles are indispensable. Nigeria got a bad name the moment our police command started misbehaving. Then the control of the character build up of the citizens became very difficult. Their contributions became almost useless because they are the major key player in the issue of corruption in the country. These people (the police) who were entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding the sheep turned to wolves that now devour the sheep they are to keep. Their functions involve the enforcement of the laws of the state. But to the greatest dismay of the public whom they serve, they have disappointed the people by their unrepentant and nonchalant attitude towards the people and the state. Recounting their misconducts, they are incessantly found flouting the laws of the state which they are meant to protect in view of the belief that nobody will prosecute them. Is anyone above the law? People who are supposed to come to work on time no longer care about the time they come to work so long as they have a thousand and one reasons to be late in the name of the barbaric ‘African time’ People who are supposed to parade criminals that indulged in bribery without fear or favor are found giving and receiving bribes. They now endorsed bribery as part of our polity by the virtue of their actions and words. People who are supposed to arrest, charge to court and prosecute criminals for the sake of justice are now seen misinterpreting the terms of the laws for the sake of money. They deny government’s effort to combat crime. They deny government’s provision of sophisticated weapons with which to fight crime. They often flee when they see criminals at the scene of crimes like robbery etc. Anyway, the issue of police misconduct is not in vogue in this write up. What is in vogue right now is the issue of the ways to re brand their name in particular and that of the country in general. Our major concern is on the way forward.

In this project, the country has a lot to do with the police. This project is hopefully achievable if the police are chiefly involved. This is a fight. Our major aim is to ensure the removal of the issue of corruption from the annals of the country’s polity. If it means printing a new brand and color of uniform for them with a new name, let them be issued that so far they can change their attitudes. It is suggestible that they (the police) be more equipped with most sophisticated weapons to help them in crime fighting. They should be paid regularly their salaries, monetized benefits and entitlements so that they will always be well fed and sheltered too. This will boost their self confidence and self dependence so that they can face and arrest whatever caliber of person that flouts the laws in the society without influence. The ministry in charge of the police should form another set of police that will police the police. Yes, the police that will police the police. It has to be formed. They will be in charge of controlling the activities of the police in and outside the barracks. The principles of rule of law which the country uses support this. No one is above the law. The bad eggs among them have to be fished out and their activities checkmated. They have to be fished out, policed and prosecuted. Their postings and transfer has to be done without any form of influence. They should be posted out of their home towns to avoid influence from their people during the course of discharging their duties. They should be regularly promoted to ensure that they stop stopping motorists and the collection of chips or ‘egunje’ on the highways. A special police patrol team has to be formed for the proposed police’ police. They are to be trained in special criminology to prepare them for policing the police. Special training has to be given them also to help them know what is required of them as regards this fight.

Strongly one can affirm that if the police are given their right of place in this country starting with this project, they will perform more than expected. I believe in them.