Because the apex Igbo physique, Ohanaeze Ndigbo elects subsequent President-Basic right this moment, a former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, speaks with BIYI ADEGOROYE on why he’s certified to steer the group
One of many first points you’re contending with is that of your nativity. The idea is that you’re from Imo State. What’s the true image?
I can inform you with out mincing phrases that I’m from Rivers State. Individuals ought to differentiate between Ohaji-Egbema in Imo State and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni in Rivers State. I wish to say clearly that I’m from Rivers State.
You possibly can test my information. Even whereas I used to be in class as much as college degree, the information are there. A few of my schoolmates can attest to this.
On the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, considered one of my mates is Andrew Uchendu, who later grew to become a senator of the federal Republic. We met on the University of Ibadan in 1974, the place we each served as govt members of the Nationwide Union of Rivers’ State College students. I used to be the Treasurer, whereas Andrew was the Basic Secretary. Late F.J Kuruye was the Chairman.
Already, the workplace has been zoned to Rivers State and I’ve the endorsement of the Rivers Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Rivers State, Chief Fortunate Ekeji and the Ladies chief Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mrs Love Chimezie Meregini, have spoken generously about my eligibility, as a real son of Rivers State and a proud indigene of the Egbema neighborhood.
Given the complexity of the SouthEast and South-South and the agitations of Ndigbo worldwide, what are you bringing to the fore as if elected because the President-Basic of Ohanaeze Ndigbo?
I’ll carry management, inclusion and strong plan to handle the peculiar wants of Ndigbo. They vary from selling the tradition, economic system and safety within the area. Our individuals have gone via lots as regards insecurity.
As a retired Inspector General of Police and former Chairman of Police Service Fee, I’ll harness contacts, collaborate with individuals and authorities all through Nigeria to offer high quality management to Ohanaeze. I’ll make the most of the identical to handle the safety and socio-cultural wants of Ndigbo around the globe.
You’ll recall that as Inspector General of Police, I performed a significant position within the institution of the Amnesty programme that restored peace within the Niger Delta through the tenure of President Umaru Yar’Adua. That enabled corporations to go about their companies and propelled a significant leap in oil manufacturing and the assets out there to state and federal governments.
I’ll collaborate with all stakeholders to carry stability to the South-East. I’ve the mandatory training, ability, methods and expertise to mitigate the safety challenges we’re having within the South-East right this moment. Return to my historical past and antecedents; I’ve executed very nicely on this regard.
Throughout your profession within the Nigeria Police, you made some outstanding achievements. What would you establish because the highlights?
I had lots of them. I wouldn’t actually wish to spotlight any of them as a result of Nigerians and observers can level out sure issues that could possibly be known as my landmark achievements.
For me, I acknowledge all of them as jobs I did for my nation and the Nigeria Police Power, and most significantly as a name to obligation.
If I have been to reminisce on them, I’ll single out some that have been celebrated by the individuals. One in all them was the unravelling of the killers of the Tor Tiv, HRM (Dr.) Atawe Torkula’s second spouse, Veronica Avenda, in 1999.
I’ll harness contacts, collaborate with individuals and authorities to offer high quality management to Ohanaeze. I’ll utilise the identical to handle the safety and socio-cultural wants of Ndigbo the world over
I used to be posted to Benue State as Commissioner of Police on June 7, 1999, and by July, I used to be in a position to unravel the thriller surrounding the killing; arrested the killers and once I informed IG Musiliu Smith, he suggested me to handle the press about it, and once I did the information unfold like wildfire. And folks couldn’t cover their pleasure.
They have been saying, ‘CP you’re doing very nicely.’ I do bear in mind additionally, when Lagos was in confusion, witnessing collection of killings, financial institution robberies, automotive snatching. The outstanding one was {that a} white man was killed on Adeniran Ogunsanya Avenue, Surulere. We unravelled that too and arrested the killers.
One other was the homicide of former Minister of Sports activities, Air Vice Marshal Tony Ikhazobor, on July 30, 1999 in Lagos. He had earlier served as Minister of Aviation. He was nuked by some criminals, together with a son of a serving Assistant Inspector General of Police.
They have been all arrested underneath my management. Additionally, you will bear in mind Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, a company lawyer of Ogun State descent, born on December 14, 1923. However on Friday, August 2, 1999, he was shot in Lagos. To realize entrance into his condo, they scaled via the fence, entered into his bed room and shot him.
The attackers severely brutalized his relations of their storey-building earlier than disappearing into skinny air. We received them. Senator Olayiwola Balogun, an architect and politician was one other outstanding Nigerians felled by employed killers. The revered builder and mind behind scores of high-rise buildings dotting the Lagos panorama and a presidential as pirant was killed in in December 2000.
Getting concerned in circumstances; I used to be not a sedentary officer. I used to be shifting about. The Inspector General of Police got here to Lagos, I used to be with him until 11.pm, and as I used to be going house, the DPO Sabo known as me, that Lai Balogun had been shot and killed. I went house, however couldn’t sleep. IGP Smith needed to catch his 6.am Bellview Flight.
I went to him within the morning. I knew that Lai Balogun and IGP have been superb pals, and IGP had an necessary assembly in Abuja the next day, so I didn’t inform him so as to not disorganize him. I noticed him on the airport and instantly the airplane was taking off, I known as the DPO Sabo, known as OC, Anti-Theft, SCID, Panti, Yaba, to affix me at Lai Balogun’s home. It was there they informed us how the incident occurred. As Lai Balogun’s driver drove in, a car adopted them, and robbed and killed him.
Generally, individuals can attempt to undo you however it will end up to your profit. Individuals can inform lies however the lies may be useful to you, the best way God desires it. Individuals’s lies may even make you succeed. So, as I used to be about to go away, Lai Balogun’s brother known as and mentioned his brother was killed by employed killers.
That instantly he was shot, one of many killers made a name, saying ‘we have now killed him. Can we come for our cash now?’ That was the lead. Then GSM had not been launched. We had Multilinks. It price about N150,000 then.
In my deep recess, I mentioned armed robbers couldn’t afford such a telephone at that specific time. That meant that one of many robbers was in possession of a telephone, so we moved again to the home instantly. We looked for the telephone, with the idea that the robbers should have known as their sponsor on Lai Balogun’s telephone.
I used to be given Lai Balogun’s telephone contact and with the help of Multilinks, throughout our investigation, we traced all of the calls into and out of doors the telephone through the interval. We have been in a position to hint the individuals they made the decision to, recovered the telephone, recovered his costly wristwatch and a few cash and arrested all of the suspects. Earlier than then, they have been calling for the top of Okiro.
The IGP knowledgeable me that the President Olusegun Obasanjo wished to see us the next morning, at 11.am. The agenda was to extend the crime price in Lagos.
I known as Emmanuel Akpoyinbo, who was then the OC, GID, to offer me particulars of all of the case he was dealing with. All of the DPOs and even SCID, Panti did the identical factor. I didn’t sleep all evening. I wrote a report, and once I completed round 6.am, I had my bathtub, breakfast and headed to the Murtala Mohammed Airport.
There, I addressed a press convention, gave the checklist of all theft circumstances we dealt with and charged to court docket, and boarded the plane. I acknowledged all of the theft circumstances we charged to court docket and the courts launched them on bail. There have been many others, together with the dealing with of the Ikeja Cantonment ordinance explosion on January 27, 2002, that was one other watershed within the historical past of Nigeria.
How have been you in a position to deal with the police strike in Lagos on the time you have been the commissioner of Police within the state?
I received an intelligence that law enforcement officials wished to go on strike due to nonpayment of rain dietary supplements. I known as the IGP, who was performing the Hajj and gave him the knowledge and he mentioned he has already written to the federal government about cost of the rain complement however the authorities was but to pay. I did my homework. I learn English Literature on the University of Ibadan.
I bear in mind Williams Shakespeare’s Henry V. When Henry went to assault France, he came upon that the energy of the French Military was excess of that of the British Military, the British troopers have been demoralized.
So, Henry disguised and was going to the troops from one camp to a different, boosting their morale to honour England and that if any of them died within the defence of England, it was glory and honour for them.
That even on their grave, the inscription could be ‘this man… died in defence of England.’ Even when they maintain damage within the course of, they will boast that ‘I received this wound in defence of England’. Look and behold, within the battle, England defeated France.
So, with that behind my thoughts, I went from police station to police station, barracks to barracks, room to room. I informed them ‘The IGP has written to the federal government in regards to the rain complement, so be affected person, the federal government can pay you.
There’s a course of in disbursement of presidency cash, it follows procedures. It doesn’t come in a single day.’ So, Lagos was one of many few states that the police didn’t go on strike. That was what brought about the elimination of Musiliu Smith as IGP.
After that, a brand new IGP, Tafa Balogun, was appointed. I used to be promoted from Commissioner of Police Deputy Inspector General of Police, a really uncommon promotion. Very quickly, it was on 4.00pm information. I attempted to settle down. Individuals have been dashing to my workplace and at one level I grew to become uncomfortable.
I then moved to my home and waited for the 9.pm information and it was there – Okiro was promoted to DIG. The subsequent morning, I dressed and went to see the then Governor Bola Tinub and knowledgeable him that I’ve been promoted to a DIG, he mentioned ‘Sure, I’m conscious.
The Council of State met when Smith was eliminated and one other IGP was appointed.’ No, he mentioned Governor Bukola Saraki on the assembly raised his hand and mentioned ‘Okiro has executed very nicely and ought to be made IGP.’ The Governor of Benue, Mr. George Akume, stood up and supported Saraki, stating that Okiro carried out very nicely as CP Benue, therefore his switch to Lagos.’ So, I’ve come a good distance and can make the most of this for my individuals.
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