Former Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief Dr Simon Okeke has been celebrated following his presentation of a book titled ‘Policing the Nigeria Police’, which Chimamanda Adichie and other distinguished Nigerians described as a master piece.
The book presentation with Chief Emeka Anyaoku as Chairman on the occasion attracted the likes of Chief Arthur Mbanefo; Chief Ayo Adebanjo; General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd) as guests of honours; the political class; many retired and serving senior police officers; the army and indeed who is who in Nigeria.
Invited personalities noted that the book was a product of an in-depth research which diagnosed the issues around the activities of the Nigeria Police Force, indicating problems and proffering solutions based on the practical experience of Chief Okeke as a one-time police boss.
Nigerian prolific and celebrated novelist, Chimamanda Adichie said that readers of Chief Okeke’s book would find an interesting account of how the Police Service Commission carried out its oversight role.
Describing Okeke as a man of wide-ranging humanity and intelligence, a man of wisdom, humour, and generosity of spirit, Adichie said she held ex-PSC boss’ opinion and worldview in highest esteem.
She said, “I send my respectful best wishes to the chair of this occasion, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and to the guests of honour, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and General Ike Nwachukwu, all of whom are sources of inspiration to my generation of Nigerians.
“More importantly, readers would also find aspects of Chief Okeke himself in the book.
“I hope that Chief Okeke’s book will find the wide audience that it deserves.”
In another development, investigation reveals that a good number of the Commissioners of Police across Nigeria are of the South West extraction.
A source that could be further confirmed informed that the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police is Ogundare Dare Emmanuel; Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adelesi Oluwarotimi; Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adebola Hamzat; Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Faleye Olayele.
Others are Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Idowu Omohuwa; Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Asabi; Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Stephen Olarewaju; Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Adeoye; Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Wale Abbas; Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police; MrTolani Alausa; while Edo State Commissioner of Police is Mr Adamu Dankwara and Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mustapha Mohammed.
Commenting on this development, Chief Okeke asked: “Why do we have all of the South West States Police Commissioners as Yoruba, still have Yoruba as Police Commissioner in Imo, Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa and then Northern Police Commissioners in Edo and Abia?
“If we say security is local and therefore, need to have indigenes who speak the language and understand the culture of the people as their police Commissioners, why implement it for all of the Yoruba States and then bring “foreigners” to be Commissioners of Police in South East and Niger Delta States?
“If they have chosen to make locals who understand the people’s culture and language Police Commissioners, let it be effected across the thirty six States; let an Edo man be made the Police Commissioner of Edo State, let an Urhobo, Isoko or Ijaw man be made Police Commissioner in Delta, deploy Igbo Police Commissioners to Anambra, Imo and Abia. What we have here is not balanced and might even be suspicious, “he said
