Edo to renovate barracks with N200 million, honours Police chief Arase

The Edo State Government has committed N200 million to the renovation of the dilapidated Ogida police barracks, as part of government’s efforts to boost the morale of policemen and their families resident in the barracks.

The State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, announced the government’s plan at a reception organised for the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, in Benin City, to celebrate his elevation to the exalted position of the nation’s number one policeman.

Mr. Oshiomhole, while addressing the guests which included former Inspector-General, Mike Okiro; former Deputy Inspector-General Parry Osayande; traditional rulers from across the state, clerics and other distinguished Edo citizens across party lines that filled the hall to capacity to identify with and celebrate the Inspector-General, said, “On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I want to congratulate Mr. Solomon Arase on his appointment as the number 1 Policeman in Nigeria, the largest country in Africa.

“We are very proud as Edo people of the fact that in Nigeria geopolitical equation, we are regarded as a minority but God in his infinite mercy has directed and touched the heart of our leaders to go for merit and one of us, strictly on the basis of merit, is today the Inspector-General of Police.”

While pledging the Edo State government’s support to the Nigeria Police Force and calling on the Federal Government to follow suit, Mr. Oshiomhole said, “to support you, my comrade, even at this hour when many state governments are not able to pay salaries and are asking for bailout, I want to show that we appreciate you by committing Edo State taxpayers’ N200 million to renovate the Ogida Police Barrack so that it can wear red roof, have tiles in the room and modern beds.

“It is a small token to show that in asking the federal government to support the police, we Edo State is leading by example. So I want to urge the federal lawmakers to appropriate adequate funds to the police force to enable them not only to rebuild their barracks but also to invest in their welfare.”

Mr. Oshiomhole continued, “I think that the Nigerian Police sometimes is the most misunderstood institution and my hope is that under the present leadership and given the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari for change, that change will include changing the fortunes of the Nigeria Police, making more investment in their training, remuneration and welfare so that our men and women in uniform can be motivated and have what it takes to stand and do their job without fear or favour.

“I know that the Inspector-General has the will and determination to rebuild the Police Force in a way that Nigerians will be proud of.  I hope we all will give him all the support he needs to persuade the Parliament and the Executive to provide the resources he needs to reposition the Nigerian Police Force.

“Nigerians are now more conscious about security because we now know that without security, nothing else matters. Even the poor needs security even in their poverty because the problem of even the poor is compounded if they feel unsafe”.

The Governor while stressing the importance of the celebration said, “We have always produced the best brains when Nigeria need brains. When there are challenges that require courage, intellect, resourcefulness and doggedness, Edo State has always been in the map.

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“So when we celebrate Solomon Arase, we have several reasons to do so because we were almost there but couldn’t make it due to conspiracy at home and abroad but this time, all those negative forces were defeated and your son is the number one policeman in Nigeria.”

The Governor also used the occasion to eulogise the sterling leadership qualities of the President for believing in commitment, merit, intellect and diligence irrespective of party or politics.

He said, “I want to appreciate our President, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari because in the past, every president would find nothing good in anything done by the predecessor. President Buhari will go down in history as a president that appreciates merit, respects intellect and respects commitment and that is the only reason we are able to be here today to celebrate our son and brother.

“I think by this he has also laid a foundation for strengthening institutions such that if you are good regardless of how you got there, you have a right to remain there and that is why I want us to celebrate my own President, our own President for appreciating the qualities of one of our own.

“God bless our President not to see you in political terms but to see you for who you are; a competent officer of the Nigeria Police capable of providing leadership in a multiparty democracy without fear or favour and upholding the rule of law. We are proud of you and we are celebrating you tonight in a way that will inspire younger people to have faith in God, take their jobs seriously and to refuse to submit to the wrong notion that in Nigeria, it is who you know that matters, not what you know.”

In his response, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, appreciated the Governor and the people of the state for honouring him and promised to continue to uphold the integrity and excellence which the Edo man is known for.

Mr. Arase said, “That I was able to become a Commissioner of Police and now Inspector General of Police is by divine providence and I can’t thank you enough for honouring me.

“I am an Edo man and there is one thing that defines an Edo man; excellence, hard work and integrity and these are my defining characters. This is my defining moment, to become the first Edo man to become the Inspector-General of Police is my defining moment.

“One thing I can assure the people of Edo State is that I would remain on the path of integrity, I would work hard  and leave a landmark that would be difficult to beat in the police force.”

The Inspector General of Police, however, assured the people of the state that he will continue to deal decisively with cultism and other related crimes in the state stressing that the era of cultists having a swell day is gone.

Iara Oshiomhole, wife of the Governor, presented a souvenir to Inspector-General and his wife on behalf of the government.

The Inspector-General was accompanied to the reception by his wife and children.

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