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Zanna Ibrahim, Delta State Police Command Boss

Delta state Commissioner of Police (Compol), Mr. Zanna Ibrahim yesterday, 10/8/2017 called on the Nigeria’s politicians to emulate the Delta state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for successfully conducting a rancour-free, credible, free and fair elections to put in place a new executive to run the affairs of the council.
Mr. Ibrahim gave the call and commendation when he received members of the Indigenous Correspondents Chapel and the Correspondents Chapel, both chapels of the NUJ who paid him a courtesy call in his office on Okpanam Road, Asaba.
While congratulating the journalists on the success of the change of baton at the Delta State NUJ elections, he politicians to emulate the pace set by the journalists by conducting free, fair, credible elections that is rancour free.
Welcoming the journalists, the Compol also announced that the Inspector General of Police, has initiated a paradigm shift from a police seen as a monster to a police that must been seen as a friend. “He has advocated that we must be friendly, display equity so that members of the public would be friendly to the police,” he stated, pointing out that it is only then that the police will get information.
“Your being here is a fulfillment of the partnership advocated by the IGP,” Compol Ibrahim said.
He called attention to the big task facing the country in the fight against crime and criminality. “It is against this background the press is a critical segment that should help to build an environment that is safe and secured, so that investment and development will thrive,” Ibrahim said.
His logic is that investors can only be encouraged to come to Nigeria in an atmosphere of safety and security, because it is through such investments that employment opportunities will be created for the unemployed youths. Explained that when the youths are gainfully employed, it keeps them busy away from crime, and the result is safety and security of the environment.
Compol Ibrahim also called attention to the many agitations in the country, pointing out that it is only the Press that can help the country to manage the information by helping to build through the publication of objective reportage of events and occurrences. “We should tell the outside world about positive happenings in our state and country, so as to encourage investors to come in and invest. Let’s propagate stories that will build,” he said.
The Compol also called attention to the era the nation is in, saying that “This is an era of whistle blowing. Blow the whistle against crime and criminality so as to ease our country from vices that have stagnated our country,” Ibrahim said.
He continued: “We must change. We must expose people who are doing incorrect things in the society. You are not blackmailing anybody by doing such. But we must know how we are doing, even in the police. Whistle blowing should be extended to the police so that we know how we are doing.”
Ibrahim decried the do or die attitude of some Nigerians to seeking positions of power. He said: “People should not die because people want to occupy a position. Let us please report so that the political terrain is not over heated; because at the end of the day the bulk stops on the desk of the police as the arrow head for providing security and safety of society.”
Compol Ibrahim pleaded with Nigerians to avoid hate speech and that such speech should in fact not be propagated, even as he acknowledged that the role of the Press cannot be overemphasized in any society. “That is why people will willingly want to partner with you. And the IGP has charged us to observe democratic policing,” Ibrahim said.
Earlier the Chairmen of the two visiting chapels, Comrade Bartholomew Ozah of ICC and Comrade Paul Osuyi told the commissioner of Police that they came to visit to establish contact with his Command so that the Correspondents will be informed when the command is holding media briefings.
“Incontrovertibly, you have collaborated with the press since you came on board but what is worrisome is the fact that journalists working with community based media, especially my Chapel have not been carried along especially regarding invitations to cover your press briefings and often treated as gate crashers during briefings. CP sir, the importance of community press cannot be over emphasized, we appeal therefore to always extend invitations to us whenever there is briefing,” Comrade Ozah said.