The Inspector General
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has said the hierarchy of the Force has come to the realisation that present day law enforcement requires more than the old ways of things, hence its decision to change the face for community policing.
Adamu, represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Leye Oyebade, spoke at the 25th anniversary of the Oodua People’s Congress on Thursday in Lagos.
Adamu said the police was now on the same page with the OPC as far as securing the community is concerned, hence its recent decision to up the level of partnership with the organisation.
Oyebade said at the event put together by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and National Coordinator of the OPC, Iba Gani Adams: “This is a goodwill message from the Inspector General of Police….
“The police is changing the face for community policing.
“And this is the message of hope we are bringing to you all.
“We are getting policing to the people.
“And in this process, we are on the same page with the OPC.
“You would have observed that the group has changed its strategy from militancy to diplomacy, authentic dispute resolution.
“So we have to partner ourselves.
“In this country today, the political terrain is tough, the economic environment harsh, so the issue of security should not be taken lightly.
“We need to talk with everybody.
“Like Aare said, we must partner.
“And in this move, every sector is represented.
“For instance, we have the Zone 11 Stakeholders Forum.
“Everyone that can bring anything valuable to the table should do it.
“That is the way forward.”
Elder statesman and Deputy Leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, equally told the gathering that community policing was the only way to go in resolving the insecurity in the country.
Adebanjo said: “The IG should be told the truth about this.
“There is no other way out.”
He said it remains almost impossible for someone who does not know a terrain well to effectively curtail crime there.
He, however, said the community policing he is talking about is not just arming some people with baton and telling them to go after criminals, but a well funded and armed police team.
He said the police to operate at the community level must not be one influenced by the political class but under a professional.
He said the same should be applicable to the federal police.
The Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, equally backed the call for the swift introduction of community policing.
He, however, said he disagreed with the tag Oyebade gave to the OPC that it had dropped its militancy for diplomacy.
He said both should run together, adding that when the need for diplomacy arises, it should be used, while the door for militancy should not be shut.
Odumakin said: “OPC should maintain its vibrancy.
“Diplomacy good, but OPC should also apply vibrancy where necessary.”
He also called for justice to be done in the case of the killing of three operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team by soldiers of 93 Battalion of the Nigerian Army “instead of engaging in useless investigation.”
Meanwhile, the OPC in the occasion its silver jubilee honoured Oodua honoured 21 Nigerians for their contributions to the growth of the organisation and their belief in and pursuit of the Yoruba cause.
The honour was bestowed on the recipients at a well attended ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the OPC om Thursday.
The group was founded on August 13, 1994 in the wake of the struggle for the actualisation of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
The National Coordinator of the OPC and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, explained the reason behind the award in his speech at the event on Thursday in Lagos: “Let it be restated here that our interest in all is defending the Yoruba interest. And we are fanatical about that.
“This is why we want to use the opportunity of this anniversary to honour those who have been fanatical, like us in OPC, about Yoruba interest. For example, even if I did not meet him personally, I heard and read about our revered leader, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Pa Adekunle Ajasin I met though many here just read about him. Bashorun Abiola’s passion for the Yoruba race was never in doubt until he died. These are the calibre of people we are honouring today.
“They are the ones who have propelled us in all that we have done so far, with OPC gaining grounds all over the world. Despite the many battles, OPC is progressing.
“It has given birth to Olokun Festival Foundation, Gani Adams Foundation, Oodua Progressives Union, an organisation for Yorubas in Diaspora now in 87 countries. It is equally on record that most self-determination groups between 2001 and 2012 have traces of OPC membership. That is why we only laugh when people speak ill of OPC because you do not know the potential we have inhouse.
“The progress we have recorded has shown in the number of recognitions we have received, the highest being my emergence as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
“In the letter of award by Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin of Oyo, it was stated that my involvement in the OPC Olokun Festival Foundation and OPU, which was then in 77 countries, earned me the highest honour and title in Yorubaland, the Aare Ona Kakanfo.”
Those honoured at the event were late Chief Obafemi Awolowo with the Legacy Award; late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Legacy Award; late Chief Abraham Adesanya, Legacy Award; late Justice Adewale Thompson, former Legal Adviser of OPC, with the Legacy Award; and Abiola as Icon of Democracy.
Others honoured included Prof. Wole Soyinka, Adviser of OPC; late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, lead advocate of OPC; late Beko Ransome Kuti, pioneer Treasurer of OPC; late Ambassador Segun Olusola, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Olokun Festival Foundation; late Dr. Fredrick Faseun, Founding and Spiritual Father; late Rasheed Gbadamosi, former Chairman BOT, OPC; and late Prof. Sophie Oluwole, Member BOT Olokun Festival Foundation.
Others also honoured were late Tony Ngrube, one of the nine founding members; late Alhaji Ibrahim Abobanawo, one of the nine founding members; Olumide Adeniji, one of the nine founding members; Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, for selfless service to the OPC; Femi Falana (SAN), leading legal advocate; Oluwole Kehinde, leading legal advocate; Gabriel Akinadewo, Publisher of Freedom Online for selfless service to the OPC; Femi Aborishade, a lawyer, for selfless service to the OPC; and Chief Yemisi Shylon, an unrelenting resource person.
