Politics Affect Police Work – AIG

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 11, Mr Olasupo Ajani, has said it is very difficult for police officers to stay out of politics completely in the discharge of their duties.

Ajani, who said this in the address he delivered during his pullout parade held at Osogbo Township Stadium on Tuesday, warned that constitutional provisions and politics might hinder police officers from discharging their duties without bias.

He, however, hailed police officers and the rank and file for their courage and patrotism despite the challenges they face.

He said there were some bad eggs among the police but stressed that the majority are upright and courageous.

The AIG said despite increase in crimes, the number of policemen has been reducing.

He called on residents to always support the police to provide adequate security.

He said, “I wish to thank the politicians who govern us. Policing and politics can be uneasy bedfellows, perhaps best kept at a respectful distance from one another. With the present constitutional provisions, the idea of operational independence from political control is not attainable.

” As a police officer, you may promise to serve without fear or favour but it is very difficult to stay out of politics. Politics has increasingly got stuck into policing, and if we are not careful politics can get into the way of policing.”

While urging journalists to expose any atrocity perpetrated by Nigerian policemen, he said they should be balanced in such reportage.

He said, “The prevailing media narratives about policing in this country are astonishingly hostile, with accusations that the police are corrupt, incompetent etc.

” There are bad eggs in every organization, and we must remember that the police are the mirror of the society it serves. The character of the police of any society is the character of that society, so each society deserves the kind of police it has.”