…Sees President off
The acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has been decorated with his new rank by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja was on Tuesday.
The decoration was done in the presence of the former IGP, Usman Alkali Baba alongside the acting IGP’s wife.
Earlier, the acting IGP was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to see off President Tinubu, who departed the country to attend a Summit on a new global financial pact in Paris, France.
In an interview shortly after being decorated the acting IGP said that already felt like a tiger ready to chase away all criminals in the country.
He also said in another breath that he is feeling like a lion ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria.
Asked about the kind of weight the new responsibility has on him, he said, “Now I have just been decorated and I am looking forward to taking over tomorrow morning (Wednesday) by 11 am. I really can’t describe how I feel presently.
“But if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now I feel like a tiger inside of me ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other time, I feel like a lion in me ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now.”
The former IGP, Alkali Usman Baba in his comment, said he was happy handing over to someone that will carry the mantle of leadership from where he stopped.
On the significance of passing the task to his successor, the former IGP said, “It’s very significant as you have mentioned. It’s a stage, you come, you work, and you go.
“I’m happy I am handing over to somebody I know that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I have stopped.
“We grew up in the job, we grew up together, I was his boss at a time or even when I was IG. He worked under me twice, we’ve been working together, and I know how he can go ahead to champion the course of the police from where I stopped,” Baba said.
Based on the civil service rule, which stipulates that civil servants are mandated to retire following the attainment of age 60 or having spent 35 years in service, depending on whichever comes first, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, appointed by President Bola Tinubu on Monday night, is expected to retire from the Nigeria Police Force on September 4, 2024.
If confirmed as the IG, Tinubu will be following the path of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed a police officer whose retirement date preceded his tenure in office.
Contrary to the Police Act, 2020, which stipulates a four-year tenure for an IG, Buhari appointed the former IG, Usman Baba, on April 6, 2021, while he (Baba) was expected to retire from the police on March 1, 2023, when he clocked 60 years of age.
With a career spanning over three decades, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, joined the NPF on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in Course 16.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Lagos, a Master of Science degree in Engineering Analysis, a Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, and an MBA degree from Lagos State University.
The acting IG, who hails from Yewa-South Local Government in Ogun State, was a former chief security officer to President Tinubu.
Egbetokun’s appointment as acting IG comes after his short term as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters.
Prior to that, he was the 30th Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, a position he assumed on October 25, 2022.
Prior to that, Egbetokun served in various commands and held sensitive positions within the NPF.
He was the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos from 2005 to 2007, Squadron Commander of the 5th Police Mobile Force, Benin Edo Stare, Officer-in-Charge of Anti-Fraud in the FCT Command, CSP “A” in the Lagos State Command, Area Commander in Oshogbo, Osun State, Area Commander in Gusau, Zamfara State, Commandant of the Police Training School in Ikeja, Lagos, Deputy Commandant of the Police College in Ikeja, CP Servicom at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, CP Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and CP of Kwara State Command.
Prior to his present promotion and posting, he served as CP (Admin) Medical in Falomo, Lagos.
He has also undergone several local and international courses to enhance his skills and knowledge.
Present at the brief decoration ceremony were the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume and the family members of the acting IGP among others.
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