The former inspector general of police said that he did his very best and delivered credible and peaceful elections to the country.
Abba was sacked on Tuesday, as announced in a statement by the presidential spokesman Dr Reuben Abati, who said the sacking was with immediate effect.
Shortly after his dismissal, he was replaced in an acting capacity by the former deputy inspector general of police in charge of force intelligence, Solomon Arase.
Speaking during the official handing over ceremony between him and Arase, Abba said that society usually finds it difficult to understand the actions of the police.
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“I want to thank the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for that appointment and for also seeing me out at this time because I believe God knows the best. And I want to say that I want to move on with my life believing that life has steps and it is a journey.”
“To my colleagues, I know you have seen it all. We started at a time that was very difficult in Nigerian history, a time when politics had picked up. We were getting ready for the elections and our whole attention, I would say, was on the elections, even though we kept on doing our best in managing our day to day activities”.
“My happiness is that we have gone through it; the elections are almost over. I want to seize this opportunity to thank everyone, all stakeholders with regards to the 2015 elections for making it not only a reality, but also making it credible.”
“I’m happy we had a credible and peaceful conduct in the 2015 general elections. And I want to urge you to put in more efforts because it is not over yet; the elections are not concluded in at least three states”.
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While also addressing newsmen, Acting Inspector General Arase identified two national assignments which he said would test the professional expertise and commitment of the police, and also subject them to national and international scrutiny, including the conduct of the governorship elections in areas where the elections were declared inconclusive and the delivery of hitch-free presidential, governorship and House of Assembly inauguration ceremonies.
He said there would be a massive deployment of personnel to prevent social disorder and the police will decisively deal with troublemakers.
IGP Suleiman Abba, NPM, NPOM, mni was the 17th indigenous inspector general of police and was appointed by President Jonathan. He formally took over on August 1, 2014, from the former police boss, IGP MD Abubakar (Rtd). Suleiman Abba hails from Gwaram local government area of Jigawa state, holds degrees in History and Law and has attended several management and security courses within and outside Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
His dismissal came as a shock to many who have suggested it might be politically motivated.