How Police Commissioner Olokode Is Seen In Osun Before The Storm Raised By Aregbesola’s Men

In December 2020, Olawale Olokode assumed office as the Osun state commissioner for Police.

Within 6 months the M.Sc holder in Peace & Conflict Resolutions Studies became the favorite of many.

Reason?

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that the immediate past Commissioner of Police Border patrol deployed his wealth of experience in different states across the six geographical zones to drastically reduce issues of insecurity.

Cases of kidnapping, herders, and farmers clashes and incidences of local crimes massively dropped in numbers.

“He adopted a proactive and open-door policy as well as a very welcoming approach that encourage officers and civilians to free relate with him, irrespective of status” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.

Further checks by SocietyNow.Ng revealed that the handling of the June 12, 2021, rally and related political activities in Osun State in the face of myriad political interests and conflicting agenda – even within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cemented Police Commissioner Olokode’s status as the “ideal law enforcer” in the hearts of many locals.

A portion of one of the many articles published on the June 12, 2021 “celebration” in Osun tells a telling story of how Commissioner of Police Olokode who also holds a B. SC in Sociology from the University of Ibadan (Oyo state) fared.

“The happenstance on June 12th 2021 when the whole country was indecisively unsure of what was going to happen next whether we will live to see a Country Nigeria of ours afterward was a turnaround for me in Osun State. This was as a result of organise agitation of sectional populace on one part who wanted a fresh order, and on the other side those who felt that Democracy deserves more. As a student of politics and governance, I was not ready to rely on ear says in case something terrible will happen, I jumped on the streets crisscrossing Osun State myself. I stayed in major cities including Ede and Oshogbo intermittently. I planted my Comrades in Ife and Ilesha and Ikirun haven realised that it was enough to base a meritorious judgement because the enumeration covered all the senatorial districts of Osun State. Ejigbo was not left out too.

“I dare to say that the success of June 12th in Osun State without any incident of arrest will remain a commendable feat to remember for many years to come by those who have a stake in the security welfare of our state. No thanks to Commissioner Olawale Olokode of the Osun Police Command for this peaceful ambience. Unlike the plethora of arrests witnessed in most parts of Nigeria as a result of cankerworm of confrontations between civilians and police, Osun was absolutely immune to police abuses yet there was record protests by gallant comrades” a part of the June 18, 2021 article by activist Akintunde Bello Sheriff ( ABS) – who is resident Osun State – which themes others reads.

SocietyNow.Ng further gathered Olokode maintained a vice grip that ebbed security incidents in Osun state, especially those peculiar to the area since then.

And the article June 18, 2021 article by Akintunde Bello Sheriff also provided insight into the foundation for the boost in security with the revelation that “Because of the strategic place of security of the people, i have commendably observed the efforts of the Commissioner of Police in bringing virtually all security unconventional outfits into the moderated security pursuits in Osun State which is gaining traction and yielding results. This is the way to go. Osun State will always remember the civil conduct of this topnotch police officer and his friendly policing.”

However, the gains the residents, particularly the everyday people via a massively boosted security network are about to be sacrificed on the altar of political interests.

The ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state has broken into two.

One is headed by Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the other by Minister for Interior Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola.

Oyetola is Aregbesola’s successor as Governor of Osun state.

The two camps are fighting for the soul of the political party and the government of Osun state.

The Aregbesola camp wants Commissioner of Police Olokode removed over accusations he is not handling allegations brought against the Oyetola group the way they deem right.

“They want CP (Commissioner of Police) Olokode removed for political reasons, irrespective of the major strides recorded in policing and security issues since he assumed office in December 2020” SocietyNow.Ng.

Olokode who was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force in March 1988 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (Cadet ASP) and the Osun State Police Command have threatened legal action against Aregbesola and his group over their false allegations threatening the good name and reputation he has earned over the years – as well as those of his men.

The Police Commissioner in a public reaction to the allegations insists that “the Osun state police command will not be an instrument of any political party and all petitions, cases will be treated based on merit”.

The flashpoint of the face-off between Commissioner of Police Olokode and the Aregbesola group is the recent attack of Oranmiyan House.

Oranmiyan House located in the state capital Osogbo is the meeting venue of the Aregbesola group.

The Aregbesola group in a petition gave a list of those to be arrested (said to be names of Governor Oyetola’s loyalists) over the incident to the Commissioner of Police but the Osun state Police command made its arrest ( said to supporters of Oyetola and Aregbesola) based on the investigation into the incident.

The Aregbesola group is making what the Commissioner of Police has branded “false allegations” and threatened legal redress over the shape the investigation is taking.