It is not often that the civilian population loves, adores and adulates a policeman. More often than not, policemen in Nigeria are seen as anti-people, no thanks to the reprehensible behaviour of some of them who delight in assaulting the sensibilities of people in many ways.
But every now and then, appear police officers who are cut out differently and who display the highest professionalism. One such officer is the outgone Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr Aderemi Adeoye.
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Adeoye was formally disengaged from the Police Force after 35 years of meritorious service to his fatherland and humanity.
Adeoye wasn’t just a cop, he was a humanist, a good mixer and a patriotic Nigerian. He saw Anambra as home and fittingly so, having spent ten years there, before becoming the CP.
Aderemi was loyal to friendship and had been particularly good to the media for whom his doors were always open. He listened to, and acts on, advice and suggestions. He was simply a thoroughbred professional.
It is no surprise that the people among whom he lived and worked with, are deeply appreciative of his efforts. Such appreciation led to a street being named after him in Awka by the state government. He has also bagged a few chieftaincy titles from some communities also in appreciation of his gallantry and dedication to duty.
It is no exaggeration to posit that Adeoye has been adulated like no other police officer in Anambra and this is a wake up call to those who will come after him to delve deeply into his template.
Policing should be with a human face and police officers should know they are part of society and must strive to sustain it as Mr Adeoye has done.
Police officers should not be wolves to society but should always strive to maintain good relations with the local population.
Addressing newsmen, Monday, at an interactive session at the Command Headquarters, Awka, Adeoye said the experience he got in Anambra would live with him forever, noting that with the conferment of a chieftaincy title by the Igwe of Ogbunka, a community in Anambra, he had now gotten a village in Anambra.
His words, “It’s been a very good time with you and I’ll carry the memories with me and even if I’m no more a Commissioner of Police, we’ll still be seeing, our paths will still cross.’
We salute Mr Adeoye for who he has been and wish him the best as he ventures into life as a civilian.
We are satisfied that Mr Adeoye came, saw and conquered.
