THE immediate past Commissioner of Police in Edo, Retired CP Phillip Ogbadu , has advised youths in Edo to take up agriculture and shun social vices including fraud.
Ogbadu gave the advice at a reception in his honour organised by the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, to mark his disengagement from the Nigerian Police Force.
The retired police chief said that Edo was a state blessed with so much wealth in terms of natural resources and arable land.
He urged youths in the state to begin to explore the abundant natural resources and utilise the vast arable land,
“Edo is one of the best and blessed states in this country. And this is because there is so much wealth in the state in terms of
natural resources and availability of arable lands.
“There is need for us to start talking to our young men to start tilling the land.
“Let’s explore the wealth of the land to make the state better, and desist from fraud and every fraudulent practices and activities”, he said.
Giving account of his stewardship in the state, the retired CP said that when he assumed duty in January 2021, shortly after the #EndSARS protests, insecurity in the state was at its highest peak.
He added that even the morale of officers was low, and many of them were afraid to wear their uniforms for fear of public attack.
“So we needed to tackle the situation, and in doing this I had to lead from the front.
“I put up a patrol and I was not only part of the patrol, I was leading the patrol to boost the morale of officers.
“You know sometimes, you use abnormal ways to solve abnormal problems. At the long run we overcame the challenges of insecurity, and bubbling life returned in the state”.
Ogbadu further said that it was a rare privileged for him to serve as CP in the state and also have unfettered access to the Esama.
According to him, before coming to Edo, I only know the Esama by name, and from his pictures on the television and newspaper.
“But as a police officer, to be successful, you need to know the owners of the land and those who make things happen anywhere you are posted to.
“And so when I got to Benin, l met with the Esama and several others in this category.
“However since after our meeting, the Esama has not relented in contributing and assisting the police command whenever the need arose”, he said.
Ogbadu therefore use the opportunity to appreciate the Esama for his assistance and contributions to the success story of the command, during his tenure as the CP.
Earlier, the Esama said that the reception was to give honour to who it was due.
He described the retired CP as an officer who “came, saw and conquered” haven been posted to the state when security challenge in the state was high, and was able to restore security.
Meanwhile, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Bronze FM, Benin, has also honoured the retired CP with an award of excellence.
Mrs Bimbo Oyetunde, General Manager of the station, while presenting the award, said that the award was in recognition of Ogbadu’s remarkable activities while as CP in the state.
“The state was relatively peaceful during your tenure. You brought stability to the hitherto troubled state.
“This is because with more than 2000 prisoners escaping from prison during the #EndSARS, there was palpable fear in the land.
“But you came and brought your Midas touch. So we thought it wise to honour you this award”, she said.
Responding, Ogbadu appreciated the station for the award, noting that the station and other stakeholders were involved in evolving a new security architecture for the state.
He expressed optimism that his successor would sustain the tempo in ensuring security of lives and properties in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Ogbadu retired from the Police Force on March 7.
By Deborah Coker
