My birthday, police and the Osun election

Dear readers, this week, permit me to devote a fraction of this column to celebrate myself. It was a solemn and introspection day for me on August 17, 2026 because it was my birthday. I turned 75 and I’m grateful to God for that privilege, a milestone made possible by His grace and mercy. On a lighter mood, I turned 75 the same day one of Nigeria’s ex military rulers turned 85. What a birthday mate I have in him. Your Excellency, sir, as the older birthday mate here, I’m expecting fantabolous birthday gifts from you! Yes! I share birthday with Nigeria’s greatest military ruler, the irrepressible General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida- a leader whose bold imprints on the sands of time are still visible and recognisable on Nigeria’s landscape!

Let me use this auspicious occasion of my birthday, to thank the Nigerian police, my second constituency outside journalism, where I have contributed my quota in terms of crime bursting and securing the county as a security journalist and consultant for many years. Note that I was the  Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the police newspaper, THE DAWN. As a birthday shout- out, let me also me use this medium to applaud the outstanding performance of the Nigerian police under the innovative and reassuring leadership of the Inspector- General of police, Tunji Rilwan Disu. IGP Disu  exhibited an examplary, extraordinary leadership quality during the just concluded gubernatorial election in Osun state. I am excited that through the proactive policing model of IGP Disu, Osun citizens  comported themselves peacefully during the election. In appreciation of the neutrality, effectiveness and professional conduct of the police during the election, it was heartwarming to see jubilant people on the streets of Oshogbo, the Osun state capital, having hand shake with security personnels especially the police for a job well done. In some communities the citizens were seen buying drinks for the policemen  and other security personnels on election duty. These gestures are unprecedented in the annals of electoral exercise in Nigeria.What this shows is that Nigerians are appreciative people and yearn for, and will appreciate a people- oriented, effective and professional security agencies. Figuratively speaking, before now it has been an unsettling  “cat” (security personnels) and “rat” (electorates) relationship. However the Osun election has introduced a completely new dimension in security management during electoral exercises in the country.  Instead of the police and other security agencies receiving the usual insults and accusations from the electorates for alleged collusion with unscrupulous politicians to subvert the people’s will, this time around, they received love and commendation. The police received friendly banters and cheers from the people. What this signifies is that the quality of a leadership in any establishment impacts on the staff. IGP Disu has reinvented the police and restored respect and dignity to it! According to late 40th President of the United States of America, Roland Reagan, “the greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things; he is the one who gets people to do the greatest things.”

When the Osun governorship election campaign started,  reports emanating from the state were troubling as over 30 people were reportedly killed in a pre-election violence. The escalating violence immediately made IGP Disu to introduce some far- reaching security measures including the redeployment of the state  Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan to Abuja and the drafting to the state of CP Erale Samuel Etaifo. The security measures worked wonders leading to a peaceful election thus casting the IGP as a reliable and thinking leader. Indeed, IGP Disu exhibits qualities of a leader as outlined by John C. Maxwell, an American author and leadership expert. According to Maxwell, a leader is one “who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”.

IGP Disu’s police career trajectories are replete with salutary and examplenary leadership qualities. His indelible marks as Rivers state and FCT police Commissioner are still there as references. As Commissioner of police in Rivers and the FCT, Disu did not give criminals a breathing space. Lagosians will not also forget in a hurry the bloody nose he gave to criminals in the state when he was the Command of Rapid Response Squad, RRS there.

Appointing Disu the IGP on 24th February 2026, President Tinubu had said: “I made this decision for you to assume this responsibility. I know your record. I saw the dedication you exhibited while you were in Lagos when I was governor”.

To Disu’s credit, unprofessional conducts of policemen across the country have drastically been curtailed. Only recently the IGP did not waste time in summoning to Abuja, the Assistant- Inspector- General of Police, AIG in charge of  Zone 2, AIG Jimoh Moshood over an alleged professional misconduct levelled against him by a Lagos businessman, Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi. Back to Osun. With the commendable conduct of the police during the election, IGP Disu has demonstrated to Nigerians that with effective and proactive policing, the 2027 elections will be peaceful and devoid of electoral malpractices. This is what Nigerians and the international community are yearning for.The peaceful election in Osun should indeed be a template for other upcoming elections in the country.

Once again, I thank God for for the gift of life, for ordering my steps and being on the driver’s seat of my life these 75 years.

I’m grateful to friends, associates and family members who felicitated me on my BIG day. Thank you, all. Happy Birthday to me!

Ember months as campaign months (1)

The word “ember” is  derived from the last four months of year

These months are often associated with negative occurrences by some Nigerians, particularly automobile accidents.  Many also associate ember months with such atrocities as killings, high rate of robbery, ritual murders etc. This year, in Nigeria, the ember months will also be electioneering campaign months for next year’s elections.

(To be continued)

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