EDO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has announced N200 million for the renovation of Police Barracks at Ogida in Benin City.
Though he disclosed “this is tax payers’ money”, he explained that the gesture was in honour of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase who is the first Edo indigene to be appointed as the IGP especially as the appointment is based strictly on merit, competence, commitment, intelligence and courage.
He made the remarks at a well-attended grand reception organised by the state government to celebrate IGP Solomon Arase at the weekend in Benin City.
Governor Oshiomhole, who was truly elated, lauded the personality of Solomon Arase, “I am really proud of him, Edo people are proud of him” especially as President Muhammadu Buhari still retains him as the Inspector General of Police even when other service chiefs were dropped by the Federal Government.
According to the Governor, “The buildings will wear red roofs and have floor ties. It is a small token to support the Police. When we are asking the people to support the Police, we in Edo will lead by example.”
“God in his infinite mercy has directed that one of us is made the Inspector General of Police. This time all those forces, negative forces, have been defeated. Our son is the number one Policeman. Right now, we have a no-nonsense police officer.”
“Please, we should appreciate what God has done for us. First, let us appreciate what President Buhari has done for us. President Buhari will go down in history as a person who appreciates merit, commitment, courage and competence.”
“I want to celebrate my own President, our own President for appreciating one of our own. All other service chiefs have gone but our own remains,” the Governor said, adding, “Now we know that without security we can do nothing. All of us should support the National Assembly to support the IGP to reposition the Nigeria Police.”
Governor Oshiomhole, who later glided into the philosophical realm, recalled the challenges that he and Solomon Arase encountered in their individual lives but that today he is a Governor and Solomon Arase is the Inspector General of Police stressing that “What will be will be.”
In their respective remarks, dignitaries comprising top government functionaries, retired top Police brasses and family members among others unfolded scrolls of sterling qualities and eulogies of the IGP Solomon Arase.
Responding, the IGP, Solomon Arase, who burst into a song of praise to God that he never knew that he would be honoured this way, expressed profound gratitude to the State Government, Governor Oshiomhole, family members and friends for the great honour done to him adding “I can’t thank you enough.”
Recalling that Magnus Eweka (deceased), Parry Osayande and Fidelis Oyakhilome as indigenes of Edo State that rose to the rank of a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) without attaining the IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase promised to thread the path of diligence and honour pointing out “I am going to leave landmarks.”
He emphasised that he had dismantled road blocks which he insisted would never come back again even as he asserted “I will continue to arrest cultists. All those of you that are in cultism, I will deal with all of you. I will not spare you.”
IGP Arase solicited support for the Nigeria Police as the State and Federal government could not do it alone and urged the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Chris Ezike to ensure security in Edo State.
Eno Louis, Lare Art Alade and Edo Arts and Culture troupe spiced the event with musical performances for the entertainment of the array of dignitaries that cut across the spectrum of life that were in attendance.
High point of the ceremony was the presentation of a sourvenir by the wife of the Governor Iara Oshiomhole on behalf of Governor Adams Oshiomhole which was received by Mrs. Agharese Arase on behalf of her husband and IGP, Solomon Arase.
The IGP also received other presentations from other personalities.
