• Mbu: I’m retiring to cocoa farming
A former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ogbonnaya Onovo yesterday condemned the retirement of senior officers by the Police Service Commission (PCS).
Onovo, who granted his first media interview at the Police Staff College, Jos, after the pulling out ceremony of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Joseph Mbu, described the trend as dangerous.
He said to just ask Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) and Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) to go in one fell swoop amounts to colossal waste of resources and valuable policing experience.
According to him: “The DIGs that were sent away, some of them still have about five years in service. Some of the AIGs have seven years in service.
“It is not fair. When we joined this job as Nigerians no one told us we can be sent away by mere whims and caprices of politicians.
“We were trained both internally and outside. So, all the experiences have gone with the officers. Who do you work with? These are some of the issues.”
He extolled the virtues of Mbu, who was Commandant of the college until his retirement.
According to Onovo, Mbu was an extremely professional, courageous officer.
“Mbu ran and danced where others feared to thread. I think he was the only officer in this dispensation who could look the politicians in the eyes and tell them the truth.
“Such people are rare to come by. Nigeria needs people like them to move the force forward.
“I am happy for him because he is leaving this job with his integrity intact.”
In his valedictory speech,Mbu urged senior officers to take the welfare of their subordinates seriously.
“Give them words of encouragement. Send an officer to visit their homes when they are sick; accompany them when they are bereaved. Consider them for casual leave and off duty.”
He has a word of advice for the media, which constantly criticised his days as Rivers Commissioner of Police.
Mbu said: “To the Nigerian media and people, please, stop visiting the sins of an erring policeman on the entire force.
“See the police as partners in progress and encourage them to do their jobs effectively. Be interested in their working conditions and environments.”
Fielding questions from reporters after the pulling- out parade, Mbu said he would return to cocoa farming in his home state, Cross Rivers.
“I come from the cocoa producing area in Cross River State. We are very rich. In 1980 when I was going to the university I took $3,000. Then it was two naira to a dollar.
“I have acres of cocoa farm plus the ones my father left. So, I want to go and concentrate on them.
“I now have time to secure all the cocoa farms, plant cassava, watermelon, palms and plantain. There are alot of things to do and our soil is very fertile.”
He said he is leaving the Force fulfilled.
“I am leaving the Police with my shoulders and head high because I have served my fatherland with commitment, professionalism and honesty.
“I am proud to be a police man. I never regret joining the Nigerian Police Force and to retire as a policeman. If there is reincarnation, I make bold to say I will return to be a policeman.”
Nation Newspaper
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