BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has urged the newly posted Commissioner of Police to Edo State to ensure adequate security for the people of the state in order to enable the eager electorate to cast their votes under a peaceful atmosphere that is devoid of threat, explaining that he looks forward to having a very peaceful election that Edo people and all Nigerians will be proud of.
Speaking while receiving the new commissioner of Police, EdoState, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye at the Government House, Benin City, “We need the police to stand firmly in a way that leaves no one in doubt that PVC will be the only lawful weapon that anybody will be allowed to possess. Anybody who goes beyond that will have his freedom renegotiated. I think both the language, the rhetoric, the body language of the force must leave no one in doubt about our commitment to have an election in which nobody’s life will be threatened. Our people are anxious to troop out in millions to come and vote. I trust that under the Commissioner Adeoye’s leadership along with your officers and men that we will do everything as required by law to ensure that this basic, non-negotiable fundamental human right of our people to vote, full freedom without fear, that it is guaranteed, and it is exercised and enjoyed on Saturday so that our democracy can grow and mature. Whatever we are expected to do as a sub-national government, we will do.”
Oshiomhole further said, “The process is much more important than the outcome. I believe we need it; I believe the police are committed to it and everybody is committed to it. Working together, I am looking forward to having a very peaceful election that Edo people and indeed Nigerians will be proud of. So, Mr. Adeoye, I don’t envy you at all. My religion tells me that God in his infinite mercy will never put on anybody’s head a luggage that your neck cannot bear. So, I want to believe that God in his infinite mercy chose you at this challenging time, and he will give you strength, courage, the intellect and above all his own protection to get the job done in a way the force and the country will be proud of all of you. Whatever we can do to make the work less stressful, we have a constitutional duty to do it. It is the responsibility of government to support security agencies to secure the environment so that the ordinary people can do their businesses. I look forward to a warm working relationship with you, your officers and
men.”
Commending the outgoing Commissioner of Police, the Governor said, “Let me thank you Commissioner Chris Ezike for your leadership of this command. The former Inspector General had cause to deploy you to this state to help us restore order when violence crime among young people assumed an unacceptable level. And to your credit, you did that admirably. You invested courage, skill and commitment. It is one year off, what I will call activism, dealing firmly with criminals, and under your command, we have arrested a number of very deadly criminals, and you have provided leadership and motivated your officers and men to confront criminals without fear. On some occasions, some of your officers paid the supreme price for which we can never thank them, no matter how hard we try to show that we care. I believe I speak the minds of the great people of Edo State when I say we appreciate the sacrifice, your leadership, and your passion for policing; your contributions at our economic council were always very enlightening. Your activities have given me confidence to be able to assure our people, and I boast with it that Edo has become the safest state in the sub-region. So, I want to thank you for what you have done. You gave the best to our state. Mr. Ezike, I am very grateful for your services. On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I want to place on record that you had an outstanding record of performance.”
Earlier, the new Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye said, “I want to say we thank you again because my senior colleague briefed me on the wonderful support to the State Command and how they were treated that demonstrated that fatherly role to ensure that the state is kept very peaceful. I just want to assure you that I deem it a privilege being here to serve. I am ready to ensure that as much as possible, my colleagues and I will add value to the state. I am an apostle of crime prevention. So, we are going to do everything that is possible to ensure that lives and properties are very secure in Edo State. So, we are going to continue to engage the communities constructively in the policing of their own environment. Thank you very much even as I look forward to having a better support than my predecessor had.”
Also speaking, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike said, “Your Excellency, I am in Government House with the new Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Mr. Adeoye. I want to take this opportunity to thank you very much for your cooperation and assistance for the past one year. I am just twelve months old in Edo State. It’s been a remarkable and a very rewarding experience. I wish to thank you most sincerely. I thank the government and the people of Edo State, indeed the entire community, ranging from the traditional rulers, the Enigie, the vigilante groups, hunters, individual communities that made the partnership and engagement worth the while. In the past twelve months, we were able to give fighting crime our best shot. It is not yet uhuru. In your usual characteristic manner, I want to plead that the same cooperation be extended to my successor. I have no doubt that with his experience and pedigree that he will be able to meet the challenges of law enforcement and policing.”
