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“Death is a necessary end , will come when it would come” –Williams Shakespeare
Solomon Arase’s came too soon, too sudden, too abruptly; his end came when no one was expecting it!
It was Sunday, the 31st of August- the last day of August.I had just returned from a church service and was relaxing in my study flipping some national dailies. And then, like a flash, a breaking news on the 50-inches TV screen in my study displayed a screaming breaking news on its newsbar: “Solomon Ehigiator Arase, the 18th Inspector-General of Police is dead!
It was for me, like a thunderbolt. I could not immediately reconcile the breaking news with the memories of Arase which instantly came flooding. My immediate attitude to the breaking news was denial, I was in denial! No, this is a mix up, Arase, the former IGP is not dead, it can’t be him, the TV station must have mixed up names, I assured myself.
But then, before I could lift my eyes from viewing the repeated breaking news running on the newsbar, a flurry of calls from senior serving and retired police officer started wafting through my phone. They were calling to inform me about the grim reality: Arase’s death! I broke down in sorrow, grief engulfed me. My own Arase, my friend, my boss was gone, I cried in my heart.
Popular variously as the “Wise IG”, “Smiling IG and “Intelligent Solomon”, Arase was a dependable friend and boss. He was the IGP, when I was the Managing Director of the police security newspaper, The Dawn. When the newspaper received an award from the United Nations and European Union as the best security newspaper being published in Nigeria , he directed the Force Headquarters Accounts Officer to appreciate my effort. Arase was not one to kill anyone’s spirit or ambition. He loved to encourage and motivate people. A very resourceful, courageous and dedicated officer, Arase was popular among officers and men of the force. He was noted for his thoroughness, efficiency and integrity. No wonder his then boss and former IGP, MD Abubakar appointed him to head the intelligence department of police . Only recently Security File mentioned him as one of the most outstanding IGPs in the country and celebrated him as one of the IGPs that introduced and upgraded intelligence led policing by adding technology in investigation.
Arase was also one of the brains behind the present smart dressing code of the police. The deceased IGP was equally credited wit the purchase of over 300 patrol vehicles code named “Safer Highways” which aimed at combating armed robbery on the highways.
Both IGPs MD Abubakar and Arase operated like Siemens twins in terms of completing police projects left behind by their predecessors which was why projects initiated by one was completed by the other, situation security experts and stakeholders hailed as healthy for continuinty and for the interest and progress of the police.
According to a Turkish philosopher, “a man’s personality is his destiny”. This mirrors IGP Arase’s career and life trajectory. Apart from being an outstanding IGP, he was also remarkable and unique in his leadership style. To use the cliche, he came , he saw and conquered and history will be kind to him.He has his place in history,history will certainly adorn him with recognition as the IGP that introduced high-impact reforms in the Nigerian police force .Arase will be remembered for self discipline , visionary leadership qualities, professionalism and the fear of GOD. Even as Nigeria’s number one Policeman, he exuded milk of human kindness, always ready to assist others, always picking his calls. He exuded no air of superiority as he related with everyone, high or low. Arase provided protection and justice to the ordinary Nigerians , he helped raise the standard of policing in the country and helped rebrand the image of the force, thus making a generality of Nigerians love and trust the police.
Arase further helped the government to stabilise security by introducing ideas and innovation that helped and upgraded the policing system.
As the American philosopher, Ralph Waldo postulated: “It is not the length of life but the depth”. Arase’s exit from the world may be sudden and unexpected but I’m consoled by the fact that he left indelibly prints on the sands of time.
It’s true that he died when his wise security counsel was needed given our country’s security situation, I’m comforted by the policing impacts he bequeathed to the force and country. He fought security to a stand still. His outstanding achievements in the police while serving as the IGP resonate till date.
Arase’s sterling performance was to catch the attention of the former president Muhammadu Buhari (now late)who, while searching for an appropriate personality to be in charge of the Police Service Commission, PSC, told one of his aids, “I can’t find any other suitable candidate than Solomon Arase”, so he appointed Arase as the PSC chairman where he exhibited a lot of wisdom in handling the protracted issue of enlistment into the police force . Such misunderstanding had in the past created crack between the commission and the police hierarchy . Arase was many things to many people, including officers still in uniform and those out of uniform as well as the civilian population, politicians and religious groups.
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A PhD holder, apart from policing, Arase was also an erudite scholar, eloquent and very knowledgeable in every subject.
Indeed, an Iroko has fallen.Nigeria has lost an icon; the Police have lost a pathfinder.
‘Shokolokobangoshe’: Nigerian military’s new rendition
It is waveless music known as “shokolokobangoshe” which suggests that people should follow and dance with him, Jeff Akoh, the musician and the originator.He urges his fans to imitiate every of his dancing steps and join him to sing and dance shokolokobangoshe.
It does appear that what we are seeing today within the Nigerian military is a variation of shokolokobangoshe.The Nigerian military is rendering what could be described as shokolokobangoshe and wants Africa military chiefs to join them in the new rendition. Just recently the Nigerian military high command threw its doors open by inviting military chiefs from African and other nations to Nigeria. The gathering was supposed to aim at brainstorming on security, how to achieve common interests and solve challenges. But was that the case?
No one is talking about the economic implications of assembling foreign military chiefs in the country but it is obvious that the economic impact on Nigeria will be enormous. It is at best a waste of resources. And this is amidst
high rate of, unemployment, economic hardship, insecurity and corruption facing the country. Nobody has told us how the military’s “shokolokobangoshe” will help curb our country’s debilitating security situation.
For the records, there have been multiple “Army Conferences” this year, including the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit (August 25-27, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria), which focused on combating regional security threats, and the African Conference of Commandants. All these conferences notwithstanding, Nigeria is yet to derive the desired results. Many security stakeholders and experts are at loss as to the major purpose for the military gatherings. Is it to show off by exhibiting our military might or to show that Nigeria has the resources to accommodate such a large number of visitors? What are the military experiences these countries possess that Nigeria is lacking? What new military war tactics can they teach the Nigerian military? This is a country whose military have been to Congo, Liberia, Sierra Lone , Haiti, Mali , Niger etc and proved it’s mettle; a country that has severally been invited by the United Nation to intervene in war ravaged countries. What exactly would these West African countries teach us? Is it how to combat terrorism or what? .
What experience do they have that Nigeria would now want to learn or copy from them? Are they teaching us how to combat hunger or stop armed herders ravaging farmlands across the country thus impacting negatively on food production, and triggering hunger?
The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) indicates that 295 million people faced acute hunger in 2024, driven by conflict.It would have been better and desirable if the conferences helped in proffering solutions to the insecurity in parts of the country. Only recently The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the suspension of operations on the Abuja – kaduna route until further notice due to derailment.Though it was never reported officially confirmed, the derailment was allegedly the handwork of foreign terrorists.Similarly, bandits have been terrorizing residents in Kwara state non stop.
It is my considered opinion that it is high time the Nigerian military start looking inward for innovative solutions to insecurity in the country.I don’t think there is something wrong if all the retired senior security officers are invited for a conference to find a lasting solution to the myriad of security problems facing the country but there is definitely something wrong if the military hosts what could pass for a jamboree or “shokolokobangoshe” dance!
