Opposition parties cut cake to mark departure of police boss Ibrahim Idris who they claim was partisan

NIGERIA'S opposition parties have celebrated the retirement of the inspector-general of police Ibrahim Idris by cutting a cake to mark his departure and they intend sending a piece of it to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Earlier this week, President Buhari named Assistant Inspector of Police Mohammed Adamu as the new inspector-general of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to replace Mr Idris who is retiring after 35 years of service. Highly controversial, Mr Adamu was seen by the opposition parties as partisan and a man who was doing the bidding of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

There had been indications that President Buhari was planning to extend Mr Idris's stay in office until after next month's elections, which was causing consternation in political circles. However, President Buhari eventually bowed to pressure and replaced him, leading to the Coalition of United Political Parties (Cupp) baking a cake to mark the occasion.

Cupp spokesman Imo Ugochinyere, said that the cutting of the cake was meant to symbolise the end of the Idris era of shame and inglorious past. He added that a portion of the cake would be sent to Mr Idris and President Buhari.

Speaking in Abuja, Mr Ugochinyere then set out the agenda for the new inspector-general of police Mr Adamu. This included a call for the release of all political detainees including Senator Dino Melaye and Deji Adeyanju.

Mr Mohammed from Lafia the Nasarawa State capital, was an assistant inspector-general of police prior to his appointment was a directing staff member at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos in Plateau State. He was born on November 9, 1961 and enlisted in the NPF in 1986.