Human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, describing it as a deceptive move that will not be implemented.
Sowore, in a post on his official X handle on Monday, said he does not believe the Nigeria Police Force under Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun has any intention of complying with the directive.
He alleged that the announcement was merely an opportunity for senior police officers to receive inflated “Christmas hampers” from influential individuals.
“I do not believe for a second that the Nigeria Police Force, under the illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has any intention of withdrawing police officers from VIPs,” he wrote.
“This latest announcement is nothing more than a Christmas bonanza for the police hierarchy; the VIPs will double or even quadruple the ‘Christmas hampers’ they give to officers in charge, and the cycle of preferential treatment will continue.”
The activist also accused President Tinubu of lacking commitment to police reforms, pointing to the extension of Egbetokun’s tenure as evidence of insincerity.
Sowore argued that for Nigerians to take the withdrawal directive seriously, the government must ensure full transparency, calling for the publication of a comprehensive list of all VIPs currently receiving police protection, including the number of officers attached to individuals, estates, companies, and even “concubines” or “side chicks.”
According to him, only a public reassignment of those officers to regular policing duties across the country would demonstrate genuine reform.
“Until that happens, this remains nothing but another dishonest pronouncement,” he added.
