Sam Philip
The new Commissioner of Police for Ondo State Police Command, Adebowale Lawal has assumed office on Monday.
He took over from the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilfred Afolabi at the headquarters at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.
At the handing over ceremony in the office of the Commissioner of Police, the immediate past CP appreciated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the people of Ondo State for the support they gave the police, imploring them to extend same hand of fellowship to his successor.
He disclosed that when he assumed office in Ondo State, he discovered that there was no mutual trust between the police and the people.
To solve this challenge, CP Afolabi disclosed that he embarked on Community Safety Partnership Initiative through which he was able to earn the trust of the people.
He disclosed that 70 percent of the workable information worked on by the command to tackle crimes were provided by the people.
CP Afolabi dismissed the insinuation that he was redeployed as a result of granting Omoyele Sowore and other protesters on Democracy Day, June 12 , saying that transfer is a normal procedure in the formation.
He said: “I will equally want to thank the Inspector General of Police. He gave me the opportunity to be the 45th Commissioner of Police of Ondo State.
“At the peak of the security challenge we had in this state, I know how I got in touch with him and he made logistics and technical support available to us, which went a long way in assisting us to have most of the breakthrough we’ve had.
“I equally want to thank him for his patience. It’s on record, there’s never been a time, even despite the time we had all these security challenges, that he ever in any way threatened. In his usual manner, he will give you words of encouragement.
“I want to correct the erroneous impression being given to me over some unsubstantiated matters, that maybe they felt were being responsible for my posting. I’ve always said it, and that’s how I approach life matter, that if God never wanted it, it would not have happened.
“So if it happens, it means it’s in line with the will of God for my life, and I go by that. The posting, I don’t know, but it was sent to me on Thursday, and almost immediately, I got in touch with him to congratulate him. And even this morning before we came here, I took time to call him and pray for him, for him to succeed.
“I want to put it like this, that for those of us who are professionals, posting is a normal thing.
“So we are all stakeholders in Nigeria Police job. Why we joined the job is to be part of creating a safe and secure environment for members of, or citizens of this country, and anywhere we find ourselves, we do it.”
In his address, the new Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal sought the support of all stakeholders in the state, promising not to disappoint them.
He said: “I want to appreciate what you’ve been able to do in this command. I’ve seen it as a very big shoe, but I have the confidence that with the management team around me and with the support of the good people of Ondo State, and of course, gentlemen of the press, they are going to surmount everything.
“I’ve taken the responsibility, it’s a challenge. I want to assure everybody that I will live up to expectations. All the request is the support of everyone, the stakeholders, because security is not so responsible of police.
“So I’ll call on all the stakeholders, the military, civil defence, all state actors to give all the support that they gave my predecessor.
“The areas where we need to address, where we need to re-strategize, he has briefed me, and we are going to work on those areas. I want to thank the Special General of Police for giving me this opportunity, for being rewarded for coming to this command, to take charge, and I want to assure him that I will not disappoint.”