Tafa Balogun: Tribute to a Police Iroko, By CP Edward Ajogun

CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun/

Friday, August 4, 2023, marked the first anniversary of the death of IGP Tafa
Baloqun, FDC, CFR, our beloved Balinga, and it is from an ever-inconsolable heart that I am writing this tribute.

A man of extraordinary personality and achievements like Balogun requires a memoir of several glowing chapters to sufficiently capture the many aspects of him that dominated and positively impacted the security environment of the country at the time he was in the saddle as the Inspector General of Police, IGP, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have, therefore, chosen a summarized version of my knowledge of him in the most apt way I could, knowing that I would never be able to adequately present this great personality, an enigma of sorts, in a short tribute such as this.

Tafa Balogun was a giant who bestrode the landscape of the Nigeria Police Force with an uncommon passion, zeal, intellect and audaciousness and left behind indelible footprints that are today a compelling reference for any police administrators desirous of unqualified success in managing the internal security of the country. I respect Balogun for many reasons, among which was his photogenic brain; his uncanny ability to memorize and deliver extempore, in the most inimitable manner, however large the volume of intellectual work might be. He was a prodigiously intelligent fellow acknowledged by some of the best academics in the country. I know that Professor Eghosa Osaghae, now the DG of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs and Dr Reuben Abati of the Arise TV station, the two of them also intellectual giants in their rights, nicknamed Balogun ‘Prof.

Balogun sought for and therefore never lacked a rich tribe of police intellectuals; from Marvellous Akpoyibo, Yinka Balogun, late Olakpe, Ibaze, and Alobi, to our very illustrious IGP Solomon Arase; gentleman, Oga Arase, and many more.

Tafa’s intellectual circle under which I served was such an awesome and intimidating one that I found myself with little brains having to work extra miles to catch up. Of course, there was also the Orwellian eye, the red biro of PSO Arase then, to tattoo your drafts in red ink for perfection. Indeed Baloqun was a ‘Police Professor’., One memorable instance he exhibited his prowess as an unpretentious intellectual giant was at his Alma Mater, then the Nigeria War College, where he delivered a 54-page paper on Internal Security extempore, citing referenced authorities with flare, gusto and allure. He so mesmerised his audience that at the end of the lecture, the Commandant of the College, then a Navy Rear Admiral simply said in a standing ovation of the audience: “Balogun, you are good! Small wonder you came here and beat all of us to it. ” I was to folloW suit on our way back to the office with my description of his outstanding intellectual outing in my Bendel language: “Oga, you be witch!”

Balogun’s gift of intellect shone glowingly in some of his works and decisions. For instance, his 8- Point Agenda to revitalize the Force remains a profound summary of all the objectives and dimensions of policing contemporary societies. Please go through it again here to appreciate its depth and comprehensiveness: Fast and decisive crisis management; a comprehensive training programme for qualitative policing; an anti-corruption crusade both within and outside Force; robust public relations; community partnership in policing, inter-service/agency cooperation at all levels; improved conditions of service; enhanced welfare package for all officers, inspectors, rank and file.

Balogun was an extremely sociable individual. He enjoyed hilarious jokes with friends he would tell me were meant for adults only!I guess now I am old enough to appreciate those wisecracks! A friend indeed, I doubt if there were any of his friends within and outside the service who did not benefit from him in one way or another when he was IG.

Balogun was a detribalized individual. Unlike our modern day Puritans who sleep and dine with God every second of the day(?), Balogun’s relationships with people were not based on religious faith. Yet, he was a devout Muslim, never a bigot. I know he never for once failed to observe his daily prayers and attend Friday worship in Mosque. He was not like some religious fanatics whose even bathroom slippers bear ethnic and religious colourations. He believed that no human being knows God enough to be able to judge another on accOunt of his acts or omissions that are perceived to be sins. “Leave God to judge every one of us,” he would admonish. So in his house, you would be served whatever you wanted to take. I always took Star Lager beer. He would not be in hell on account of this, and I would also not go to hell, when my time comes just because of beer that all of us take one way or another through vat!

Balogun had more Christian aides than Muslims, many of who were not of his Yoruba ethnic group. He was a good Muslim like my father-in-law. I do not know any other better than them! He was such an affable and urbane man who loved you for who you are and not by tribal marks, language, or religion. However, I must quickly add that he never suffered intellectual nitwits gladly. You must be an intelligent, smart and creative mind to be able to work with Balinga.

Another fine attribute of his was the mode of selecting and placing his staff to achieve results. Indeed, from his bedroom to offices, including operational fields, Balogun knew how to place square pegs in square holes!

Baloqun was committed to justice, especially in the areas of promotions and postings. He rearranged the staff list to reflect seniority; call it equity and justice in promotions. But for him, most cadet officers of Course 1988 from some parts of the country to which I belonged, and perhaps beyond, would have retired on the ranks of ACs and DCs after serving under their juniors as CPs, AlGs, DIGs, and of course IGs. I would not have been spared of the injustice that dominated the force that Balogun carried over and corrected. The staff list he met on the ground was glaringly heavily stacked against some states of the Federation, including my Edo State. With him emerged a truly national and more professional Nigeria Police Force.

Talking about courage, Balogun was the average criminal’s nemesis. His battle cry and slogan, Operation Fire For Fire (F-3) provided courage and supportive leadership for the men to confront armed robbers fearlessly, many of whom were indeed felled. With a huge frame and brain and outstanding performance at the War College, Balogun compelled deference from his military peers who freely gave the Force needed interagency cooperation.

Balogun was committed to the welfare of the men to the extent that by the 20th of every month, he made me confirm from the Commands CPs whether or not salaries had been paid. Indeed, salaries were paid no later than the 25th of every month. These were complemented by the insurance benefits paid to families of officers who died or were injured in the line of duty.

Balogun also had great foresight and wits. To clear arrears of promotions and stopped officers from certain parts of the country from spending 14 years on one rank while their juniors from privileged states skipped over them to become their bosses, Balogun, came up with the terms and conditions of service which pegged the minimum age an officer could stay on one rank to three years to deserve another promotion.

Having legally tied the hands of the PSC with the document, he stirred up a wave of promotions never before experienced in the history of the Nigeria Police Force. The establishment of a police computer training school, additional PMF training school, the women PMF Squadrons, and the expansion of the size and number of the PMF Squadrons were some of the countless innovations he brought to the Force. Of course, he would not lack ideas as you could not go to him if you did not have positive things to suggest towards bringing improvements to the Force.

Baloguns fidelity to the Force was undoubted; it was always how to better its lots, including public confidence, trust, support, and rating. He was a strong advocate and practitioner of community policing. He believed very strongly that the public must play a central role in designing policing objectives and directions. For him, the people own the police. So, if the people say they prefer policemen donned in PMF and camouflage uniforms and perhaps even serve orderlies, then give it to them under conditions that will protect the dignity of the police officer, and rather address manpower shortage through more recruitment.

For his love for the Force, commitment to a truly one Nigeria Police Force, his intellect, positive aura, and courageous mind which cowered even the Okija shrines of Nigeria, I salute Balinga even in death and will continue to mourn him. I love him even more for any weaknesses attributed to him. After all, human foibles as the source of our shortcomings in life are not limited to Balogun. In the end, those who malign others either for real or perceived misdemeanours are themselves having cupboards reeking with more odorous smells of assortments of skeletons.

My oga, Balinga, continue to rest in peace. It was a great joy knowing you and having the rare opportunity to serve you. I gained so much from you in courage and intellect such that it was easy for me to serve under Akpoyibo, another irresistible and detribalized brain, also intolerant of “dafts.”

“Benefit and burden must go together,” Akpoyibo would holler to remind you to shape in or be shipped out. I gained so much under your tutelage, Sir, that I could always earn a pass mark from our highly esteemed cerebral Editor-in-Chief, our beloved Oga Arase! Never mind that the office of PA to IG you graciously gave me cracked me so much I suffered spondylosis, a degeneration of cervical bones which persists to date as a reminder that to be a successful man, you must be tough or toughened.

Continue to rest in peace, my oga, Balinga, until we meet to part no more!

CP Edward Ajogun retired as the Ogun State Commissioner of Police.

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