*Egbetokun: I’m Happy Disu Is Taking Over From Me
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has charged the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to hit the ground running and tackle banditry, terrorism and other crimes and security challenges bedevilling the country.
Saying his appointment comes at a critical moment, Tinubu tasked Disu to rebuild public confidence in the Police’s capacity to do their job in collaboration with other security forces, urging him to advance the security pillars of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President, while decorating the acting IGP with his new rank on Wednesday, February 25, said: “Nigeria is challenged with banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities.
“You will be part of the thinking and innovation to overcome them.”
While expressing confidence in Disu’s discipline, operational experience and leadership capacity, Tinubu stated: “I made this decision for you to assume this responsibility. I know your record. I saw the dedication you exhibited while you were in Lagos when I was governor.
“Lead firmly, but fairly, demand professionalism at every level and ensure that the safety of lives and property remains our highest priority.
“It’s a daunting challenge. I know you can do it. You have my word, you have my full support.”
The President restated his belief that Nigeria would prevail under a committed leadership.
Disu’s appointment is subject to ratification by the Nigeria Police Council, which is due to meet next week, and the Senate.
Tinubu used the ocassion to commend the former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, who was present at the ceremony, saying: “To the outgoing Inspector General, we are a grateful nation. Nigeria appreciates your contribution to maintaining law and order.”
He urged Egbetokun to be ready to offer useful advice to his successor and wished him and his family peace, good health and success in their future endeavours, adding: “You have not succeeded without a good successor. His success will also be part of your legacy.”
He charged all security stakeholders to work collectively to safeguard life and property.
Speaking with journalist afterwards, Disu promised to galvanise the morale and focus of Police officers to confront the dual threats of banditry and insurgency in the country.
While underscoring the importance of public cooperation in addressing the security challenges, the acting IGP said effective policing was impossible without the support of citizens, noting that close collaboration between the Police and the public was critical to overcoming the threats.
He commended Police officers for their dedication and resilience, describing them as hardworking and committed to safeguarding life and property, despite the difficult conditions under which they operate.
Disu expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in him, saying: “The appointment means a lot to me, because I have the love of my profession, the love of the country, and it came at a time I was not expecting it.
“That makes me give thanks to the President for his magnanimity, to see me fit to be appointed as his Inspector-General Police.
“The President mentioning a lot of activities about me, mentioning areas I’ve worked, mentioning successes I’ve recorded as a policeman, brought emotion to me, almost brought me to tears.
“It shows the President took his time to monitor officers working everywhere in the country, and then it shows the President was throwing a challenge at me to go out there and do what I’m known for, and ensure that I bring peace to the country.”
On his part, Egbetokun counselled Disu to sustain ongoing reforms, including the restructuring of intelligence coordination, strengthening inter-agency deployment models, dismantling criminal syndicates and improving intelligence response mechanisms nationwide.
He was optimistic that his successor would consolidate the gains recorded in those areas and deliver even stronger results in strengthening national security, adding: “The President once said that a good leader should have a succession plan, and must invest in his likeliest successors.
“I invested in likely successors in the Nigerian Police Force, and I’m happy that one of those that I’ve invested in has been found most suitable for the job, and he’s being decorated today and I’ll be handing over in the next few moments.
“My advice to the newly appointed acting Inspector General Police is that he should continue to show commitment to the things that we have been doing together.
“He has been part of my administration from the beginning; he was my PSO, he was CP in Rivers, in FCT, he was the AIG in charge of SPU.”
Egbetokun said Disu demonstrated firm leadership and professionalism in implementing the presidential directive on the withdrawal of Police personnel from VIP protection duties, ensuring full compliance with the order.
“I am happy that he’s the one that is taking over from me, and my advice to him again is that he knows all those things we’ve been doing together, restructuring our intelligence coordination, improving inter-agency deployment model, dismantling several criminal syndicates.
“I’m sure he’s going to continue to do that, and improving our intelligence response mechanisms. I have so much confidence that he would surpass what I have done.”
Egbetokun thanked the President for trusting him with different positions, especially when he appointed him as his chief security officer when he was governor of Lagos state, and subsequently as IGP when he became President, saying: “I am deeply grateful to him.”
