Braithwaite, Sagay, others hail Ringim’s exit

A human rights lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, says the removal of the Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim by President Goodluck Jonathan is a step in the right direction.
Braithwaite, who spoke on the telephone with our correspondent on Wednesday, said the action indicated that the President had started to respond to genuine and selfless positions of patriotic Nigerians.
However, he said there was still much work to be done in the areas of combating insecurity, corruption and overhauling of the constitution.
He said, “Normally, it is not in my nature to gloat over anyone’s misfortune. But the manner the police under Ringim fired teargas at me and other civil society groups because we staged a peaceful protest is something that calls for concern. I am also encouraged that the military has been withdrawn from Lagos streets. Had we not taken the steps we took, all these changes would not have taken place.
“However, there is still much to be done. The country has the issues of corruption, insecurity and overhauling of the defective constitution to contend with.”
The spokesman for the Save Nigeria Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said Ringim’s removal was long over due.
Odumakin said, “There is nothing to cheer really. In saner clime, Ringim should not have kept his job up till now. He should have been removed for his incompetence.
“The choice of the new police boss is not the right one given the fact that he was indicted by judicial panel for wrongdoings.”
Professor of Law, Itse Sagay, also welcomed the development, saying it was long overdue.
He said, “I am not surprised. His performance since he (Ringim) assumed office has been well below standard. I later got to know that his appointment was not based on merit but based on friendship with the President. It is very shameful that his own office was bombed by Boko Haram. That is the highpoint of display of his incompetence.
“Other security agencies should also be looked into. They might have performed below standard, but their incompetence has not been as glaring as that of police.”
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