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• Restore discipline, combat banditry, terrorism – President Tinubu
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday decorated Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, charging him to restore discipline in the force and combat banditry and terrorism.
Disu now serves as Nigeria’s 23rd Inspector-General of Police.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, tasked the new IGP with strengthening discipline, boosting interagency collaboration and rebuilding public confidence in the Nigeria Police amid escalating security threats.
He gave the directive after Disu was sworn in at the State House Council Chambers, marking his assumption of office. He praised the new police chief’s track record from their time together in Lagos State, where the president once served as governor. “For you to assume this responsibility, I know your record. I believe in the dedication that you’ve exhibited while you were in Lagos and I was the governor of Lagos State. Now, you assume this responsibility at a defining moment for our nation’s security,” Tinubu stated.
He urged Disu to lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level and ensure that safety of lives and property remains his highest priority.
Acknowledging the daunting challenges, the president added, “It is a daunting challenge. I know you can do it. You have my full support as you have to advance the security pillars of the Renewed Hope agenda.”
He highlighted Disu’s qualities as a straightforward individual, committed and respected with sufficient discipline. He advised him to draw lessons from his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, saying, “You can draw from the experience of Kayode Egbetokun who had been there before you. The commitment from you is for you to make it better than you met it.”
Amid Nigeria’s battles with banditry, terrorism and all sorts of criminal activities, Tinubu positioned Disu as key to innovation and success. “You’ve been part of the innovation. The challenge as you hold the baton of this leadership is the belief that you will excel and Nigeria will prevail,” he said.
The president extended gratitude to the outgoing Inspector-General, “lauding his dedication in service, expression of good leadership attributes within the force you have served with commitment and distinction.”
To the outgoing IGP, Egbetokun, Tinubu offered best wishes, saying, “As you conclude this chapter of public life, I wish you and your family continued peace, good health and success in all your future endeavours.”
Tinubu reminded the outgoing officer of his legacy: “You are outgoing, what you should look back and remember is this, you have not succeeded without a good successor. Therefore, the success of a Tunji Disu as IGP, when confirmed, is part of your responsibility and the joy you should look forward to.”
He noted Disu’s operational expertise, adding, “And more so, having been part of your principal staff officer, I have no doubt he understands the in and out of the operation. He will only improvise. He’s an operational person from what I know.
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Emphasising collective duty, Tinubu declared, “Nigeria is challenged. We all have the responsibility to ensure security of lives and the property of all Nigerians at this critical period. We can drink from the fountain of your experience.”
Speaking to State House Correspondents, Disu expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, describing his appointment as a challenge to deliver peace amid banditry and insurgency.
He said: “First, 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; that makes me give thanks to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his magnanimity.”
He credited Tinubu’s praise of his record for nearly bringing him to tears, saying, “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. 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, recognition and calm to the country.”
Outlining his vision, Disu declared, “My top priority for Nigeria, I’m going to talk to them to let them know that they are citizens of the country; they are the boss. It’s very, very important for them to know that no police anywhere in the world can succeed without the cooperation of members of the public.”
Speaking about the officers, he said: “I will let them know that the area of impunity is over. I will ensure that I train them and encourage them to ensure they follow human rights. I will ensure that they know that I will try to follow a regime of zero tolerance to corruption, and most importantly, I’m going to drum it into them that we can never succeed without the cooperation of members of the public.”
On insecurity, he also said: “The country is facing a particular problem now, the issue of banditry and insurgency. I know all police officers around the world have been doing their best. They are hardworking people. All I need to do is to channel their morale and their thoughts to make anything better.”
The outgoing IGP, Egbetokun, stepping aside after expressing thanks to Tinubu from his days as Lagos CSO to IGP, celebrated the successor he mentored, saying, “I am particularly excited that I am handing over today to someone with whom I share a unique history.
We both had the real privilege of benefiting from the mentorship of Mr. President, dating back to his days as Governor of Lagos State.”
He recalled Tinubu’s wisdom: “He once said that a good leader should have a successor, 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 has been found most suitable for the job.”
He detailed Disu’s roles, saying, “He was my Principal Staff Officer, PSO. He was CP in Rivers and FCT. He was AIG in charge of my SPU when Mr. President gave the order to withdraw police from VIP protection and he did it so well.
“He should continue to show commitment to the things that we have been doing together, including intelligence coordination, improving inter-agency deployment model and dismantling several criminal syndicates. I’m sure he’s going to continue to do that. I have so much confidence that he will surpass what I have done.”
