Buhari, Tinubu, Oyetola, Arase, Alabi others Mourn as Ex-IGP Tafa Balogun is Buried in Ila-Orangun

Segun Atanda/

President Muhammadu Buhari and other eminent Nigerians have condoled with the family, friends, and associates of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tafa Adebayo Balogun who died at Reddington Hospital in Lagos on August 4 and will be buried today in Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

Condolences also came from APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, and police chiefs, among others.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari also mourned with the Nigeria Police Force, an institution Balogun spent the better part of his life serving.

Adesina stated: “The President recalls that Tafa Balogun, during his tenure as IGP, did his utmost to ensure that the police performed its statutory responsibilities under a democratic dispensation; and his penchant for boosting the morale of officers and men in the Force has been acknowledged by those who served under him.

“President Buhari’s thoughts are with the family, the government, and people of Osun State, as well as colleagues and former colleagues of the deceased police chief.

 “He prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed.”

Tinubu said that the late Tafa Balogun contributed significantly to national security and worked with commitment to keep Nigeria safe.

Governor Oyetola sent his condolences to the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Kayode Oyedotun, former Osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande, the Nigeria Police Force, and the family and friends of the late Balogun, who hailed from Ila-Orangun in Osun State.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan in Osogbo, the State capital, on Friday, the Governor said the late retired police officer contributed in no small measure to the nation’s security during his years of meritorious service in the Force including when he served as the IGP between 2002 and 2005.

Governor Oyetola noted that Balogun was a true patriot and respected community leader who made notable contributions to the development of his community and humanity at large. He added that this informed the conferment of Oluomo of Igbominaland the chieftaincy title on him in the year 2020 by first-class Igbomina traditional rulers in Kwara and Osun states.

Oyetola said: “On behalf of the government and the good people of Osun, I join family members, friends, the Nigerian Police Force, and the people of Ila-Orangun to mourn the death of retired Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun. I pray Almighty Allah to overlook his shortcomings, admit him into Aljanah, and grant his family and loved ones the strength to bear his demise.”

Former IGP, Dr. Solomon Arase, who had served as a Personal Staff Officer to Balogun, also condoled with the Nigeria Police Force and the family of his former boss.

The tribute of Arase, the 18th indigenous Inspector General of Police, was contained in a statement he personally signed.

Arase stated: “I am devastated by the sudden death of my former boss and benefactor, Mr. Adebayo Mustafa Balogun.

“His death came like a bolt from the blues and has sent me, family friends, and associate of the late former IGP into deep mourning.

“His death came at a time when Nigeria is battling serious security challenges and would have benefitted immensely from his wealth of experience.

“As Mr. Balogun’s PSO, during his tenure as IGP, I can attest that my former boss did a lot to boost the morale of the officers and men of the force with various incentives, decent wages, training opportunities, and approving promotions as and when due for deserving officers and rank and file.

“Mr. Balogun impacted the Force in significant ways, led from the front, and inculcated the ideals of quality service, quality leadership qualities, and can-do spirit in personnel across the board.

“The plethora of awards that the Force got in the various peacekeeping missions abroad, as well as exploits at the home front, bear eloquent testimonies to the foresight, deep insight, capacity, gallantry, and leadership abilities of IGP Balogun.

“Worthy of commendation is IGP Balogun’s foresight in the establishment of Mobile Training School, which is now available for the training of personnel and special forces since Gwoza was over-run by Boko Haram. This is not to forget the creation of the Female Police Mobile Force, PMF, and the Police Computer College, all of which uplifted the quality of service by personnel.

“At a personal level, Mr. Balogun played a significant role in my career trajectory in the force, and my engagements even in retirement. He left giant footprints in the sand of the Nigerian Police Force and did his utmost when it was his turn to serve his Fatherland as Inspector General of Police. He is simply unforgettable.

“May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al-Jannah Firdous. May Allah comfort his wife, children, grandchildren, and the entire family that he left behind, and watch over them. Amen.”

Retired AIG Tunji Alapini who was a one-time Force Public Relations Officer said that Balogun was devoted to the transformation of the police and its personnel.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Abiodun Alabi described Balogun as a highly cerebral IGP of our time. During a visit to the Balogun’s family house at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, Alabi recalled that anytime he visited the home, the late ex-IGP would always draw attention to how best Lagos should be policed.

“The Force will miss his wealth of experience. It is his mentorship that has piloted some of us to where we are today in the Force,” Alabi said.

Retired CP Edward Ajogun, who had served as a personal assistant to Balogun, said that his late boss brought lots of reforms to the police institution, including the creation of a female mobile police unit, introduced computer training for officers, mass promotion for stagnated officers, and stuck to promotion according to seniority.

He said that under Balogun the Force had a credible staff list that was used for promotion, and the late ex-IGP worked as a unifier who encouraged officers to work as a team.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Adegoke Fayoade who heads the SCIID Panti in Lagos described Balogun as a great dad, benefactor, mentor, and super cop who revolutionized the Force as an IGP.

Balogun’s first son, Abayomi said that his father never changed a bit before his death as an advocate of doing anything that was right.

He added that many people misunderstood his father as a strict person and that members of the family were not exempted from such strictness.

He described his father as a brilliant officer, a father, who always attracted standing ovations on occasions, local or international wherever he delivered speeches or lectures.

Balogun’s daughter, Bolanle, said her father would be greatly missed for many things, including food recipes, words pronunciation, reading, and responsible behavior.

“My father taught me that there is no alternative to success than to follow due process in all things.

“He made me tough like himself. If he wants to punish you for doing wrong, it is 24 strokes of the cane; because of this, no one dares get into daddy’s trouble,’’ she said.

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