Looking for the white lion?
Last week my neighbour who is aware that l have ventured into private rearing of chicken, had asked me if l mistakenly sighted his notorious white fowl. Of course, l answered in the negative tone and his countenance changed. He narrated that his wife had planned to place a judgement on the fowl thereby condemning the two legged animal into the festivity pot before the escape. Coincidentally, as the week rolled over, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had announced the search for another missing two legged homo sapien, the youthful and controversial former governor of Kogi state, according to report:
“The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, was wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged case of money laundering involving over N80 billion. This was made public in a post on the verified X page of the agency.
This is coming after the failed attempt to have him arrested at his Abuja residence on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, as operatives of the EFCC were met with obstruction from supporters of Yahaya Bello and men of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.”
Mr Bello who had described himself as a white Lion of Kogi State was reported to had been shielded and whisked away to an unknown destination by the present governor of Kogi State, Mr Usman Ododo in his tinted and supposedly official bullet proof vehicle, leaving the operatives of the EFCC who had laid siege around the street frustrated. A close analyses of the entire senario, simply speaks volume about the failure of inter agencies relationship. Two major security agencies are visibly involve in these shameful drama. There are armed police officials still attached to the former Governor. The question is why should the white Lion still be enjoying police protection after serving as governor? Shouldnt the situation be that all the security details be withdrawn one week after leaving office while a fresh request is made to private security companies and the police if they still want to continue enjoying such security protection status.
It is only in Nigeria were over dozens of police and DSS are drafted and attached to government officials for protection while serving, one can now understand why the police is always having shortage of manpower.
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Across the world there are specified number of security details that are permitted for a government official and they are immediately withdrawn after service. One would have expected the EFCC leadership to had informed the police leadership by intimating him of its plan to arrest the Mr Bello the White Lion. Many believe that the EFCC leadership has no police officer among its hierarchy to provide the needed security advice in this regard. No wonder they missed every step taken to arrest the White Lion who showed that he knows the terrain better than the EFCC. History should have taught the EFCC leadership that when the Directorate of State Security (DSS) was to arrest its former leader Mr Ibrahim Magu, the police leadership was carried along and he was handed over to the DSS at the police headquaters? So, one had expected that the lnspector General of police should have been notified aforehand to avoid all these public embarrassment. The lGP would have directed the Chief security officer to Mr Bello to invite him to his office while the EFCC officers would be waiting for his arrival and eventual handing over.
Such is what was expected of the EFCC leadership, instead of these public shameful senario of Cat chasing the rat. If there was a professional relationship between the police and the EFCC, all the unfortunate grandstanding wouldnt have taken place thereby shaming both the government and the country before the world. When the president assumed office, the first meeting he held was with the security leaders where he emphasized the need for both collaboration and strengthening of inter security agencies relationship. When there is no relationship among security agencies, many flaws become noticeable. There are security issues that need inter agencies collaboration before success can be achieved. When an agency start seeing itself as being above others, only a little mistake would expose and attract shame to the agency. Like the big Ostrich that flaunts its majesty before other birds, not realising that just a little wind can blow and expose its buttock. As l write this column, today being Monday April 22 ,2024 , the white Lion is yet to be arrested and caged. White lions are not easy preys, one needs collaborative effort to hunt them down. They are not too many in a forest like Nigeria, that is why pythons and white lions can be alledged to swallow billions of Naira being our national cake.
Cake is sweet and delicious to both lions and pythons. However, the Lion in question is a rare breed and it is the white specie that is described as very dangerous and very deep in articulation. White Lions are difficult to cage because of their strength and vision. Could all these attribute be the reason why Yahaya Bello love the symbol of a white Lion that even as a state governor he waisted the resources of the people of Kogi state to erect a statue of a white Lion. The white Lion is said to have spiritual influence on every animal around its jurisdiction. Could it be the white Lion spirit had caged Kogi State that even the present governor can abandon every state assignments just to carry out the bidding of the white Lion by ferrying him out of danger. The question still remains, have they (EFCC, Police, DSS and Immigration) seen the white Lion?
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Congratulations !!!
Security File wishes to congratulate Police officers whose outstanding performances had attracted the attention of both fellow officers, police leadership and the President and Commander in Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Vice President Shetima who crowned every of their professional efforts with befitting Nigeria police Day awards. Among those honoured include the Commissioner for Rivers state Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the most outstanding police commissioner in Nigeria while Mr Bennett Igwe who is the Commissioner incharge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was honoured as the best commissioner in the federation. Cp Ben lgwe “Alias Ben the Lion heart” was honoured for restoring peace to Abuja by clearing every traces of bandits and other criminal elements around the capital territory. Over a hundred other police men and women of different cadres were also honoured at the police Day celebration. The celebration accordingly kick starts a new police calendar which has been declared by the president and fixed for every April 7th.
However , the police day is referred to in the United State as the National Police Memorial Day and it is observed ion May 15 to pay tribute to the local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have died/or permanently disabled, in the line of duty. It also coincides with National Police Week, which is the calendar week. However in Britain, the police national day rotates around each of the four countries, is held on the nearest Sunday to 29th September. This coincides with Saint Michaels Day – The patron Saint of Police officers.