Retired Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adetuyi is a personality whose avowed interest in his police career aptly describes the cliche “once a police man is always a policeman.” Since his meritorious retirement from his tour of duty in the Police job, every opportunity he has , has always been used to hammer on the need to improve the lot of the Nigeria police personnel. It is no surprise then that at the auspicious occasion of his 70th birthday, rather than just making it a strictly “wining and dining affair” he chose to also tell a narrative of his experience in the
Nigeria police force with the launch of his book titled ” Policing in Nigeria:My Story.”
The event which held at the St. Thomas’ event auditorium , Akure attracted dignitaries drawn from the rank of serving and retired officers of the Nigeria police, civil society representatives, politicians, family and friends.
In his goodwill address, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu , who was represented by the commissioner of Education, science and technology , Mr. Femi Agagu, congratulated the Celebrator for reaching the milestone of three score and ten years, noting that Cp.Adetuyi (rtd) has proven himself to be a noble cop whose commitment to the international best standard of policing is worthy of emulation by those who are still in the force.
Earlier in his welcome address, Baba Adetuyi, as he is fondly called , had thanked everyone who graced the occasion . He however called on officers and men of the Nigeria police to strive at all times to make crime less attractive and its commission extremely cumbersome . Adetuyi condemned the archaic policing methodology in which officers check vehicles manually, wasting manhour of motorists and passengers. He also noted that Nigeria police have been held in contempt and disdain by the public because of the obvious lack of efficiency of the force, calling on the authority of the police force to create an enabling environment for policing efficiency in Nigeria. Hear him: “in the recent past, there has been a downward trend of the fortune of Nigeria police. Public perception of the force has nosedived .Government will do well to encourage policing efficiency . For instance , checking of vehicles for incriminating items or traffic control should take advantage of technological advancement.”
While calling on government to invest heavily in the police, Adetuyi gave those who are still in service five core nuggets which are: to hate crime, to detest injustice, to hate indiscipline, to respect human rights and to fear God, stressing that if they abide by these nuggets, they will not only feel fulfilled at retirement ,but will also enjoy peace of mind.
Also in his keynote address at the book launch, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Koya Ogen, Provost, Adeyemi college of Education, Ondo, noted that he was standing in deference to the contributions of great scholars like Prof. Tamuno and Dr.kemi Rotimi ,who have done scholarly research into the issue of policing in Nigeria. He said Cp.Adetuyi’s book deserves recommendation not only to police officers but to all Nigerians, except for the fact that our reading culture has dwindled.
Bar. Ajose kudehinbu, former Head of service in Ondo state reviewed the book, drawing attention to the challenges of the author in his career growth in the police force .
Among those who gave goodwill messages were The Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, Oba Michael Adetoye Obatuga, AIG Agboola Oshodi Glover, who stood in for the Inspector General of police, Ibrahim kpotum Idris, former Commissioner of police in Ondo state, AIG Hilda Ibifuro Harrison and others.
Major highlights of the high octane event was the book launch proper as guests took turn to tie price tag to their launching of the celebrator’s autobiography , and the cutting of the birthday cake , which was coordinated by AIG . Ibifuro Harrison.
While talking to the polity.com on the sideline of the event, the retired commissioner of police challenged government to urgently come to the aid of the force in the area of logistics, stressing that a nation gets the kind of police structure it deserves. On the reason why he joined the force despite being an ‘A’ grade student in high school, the retired top cop who just joined the league of septuagenarians , smiling, said he had wanted to be a police man from secondary school and he is fulfilled being one having served Nigeria as a police officer, reaching the peak of his policing career without regrets and without blemish to his cherished integrity.
The roll call of dignitaries at the event include: Ondo State Governor, ably representer by Mr. Femi Agagu, The Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, Oba Michael Obatuga, AIG Oshodi Glover, Prof.koya Ogen, AIG. Hilda Harrison (Force training command, Abuja), Ondo state Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju, INEC Resident Commissioner, Ondo state, Sam Olumekun; Southwest PDP vice chairman, Olorogun Eddy Olafeso, and Bar. Isaacs kekemeke.
Others are Senator Omololu Meroyi, Hon. Deji Iroju, Deputy Speaker , Ondo State House of Assembly; Hon. Diran Iyantan, CP.Sasere Daniel (rtd), Gen. Dayo Akomolafe(rtd), Otunba Benson Akindeju, Hon. Abayomi Sheba ably represented by Hon.Henry Akinriboya and many more.
