Ila Orangun stood still as late ex-IGP Tafa Balogun was buried -

By Banji Ayoola

A mammoth crowd of the people of Ila Orangun community, Ila Local Government Area, in Osun State, said to be beyond imagination, on Saturday trooped out to take a glimpse of the remains of a former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Tafa Adebayo Balogun, an indigene, who, according to the people had brought an unprecedented development to the ancient town, touching the lives of many of his kinsmen across board.

Generally, people of the community cutting across faith, Muslims and Christians alike, were out in their thousands to shower encomiums on the deceased super cop as a true son of Ila Orangun.

The weather too was very clement as if, in the words of the people, to confirm Tafa as a special man in whom the Almighty Allah is well pleased.

His body arrived from Lagos where he breathed his last on Thursday, unto the waiting hands of a contingent of superior police officers attired in their ceremonial dress, similarly dressed top military officers and Muslim clerics at about 1 pm.

The group prayer lasted for about ten minutes after which the body was moved to his private residence along Tafa Balogun Way where a hefty crowd was already waiting, many of whom climbed the rooftops.

The body was committed to mother earth about 2.15 pm after prayers in accordance with Islamic rites, observed by the Chief Imam of Ila-Orangun, Alhaji Salaudeen AbdulHamid.

It was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman who was represented by Osun State Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode and representatives of Osun State Government among many others.

Balogun who served as Nigeria’s top police chief between 2002 and 2004, died at 74 in a hospital in Lagos.

Different musicians comprising of Fuji, Juju and Sax singers followed the long convoy; while the native drummers, demonstrating their dexterity and mastership of the art, threw their sekere into the free air and caught this many times to the admiration of the onlookers.

Youths and the elite made the outing in white dress to imitate Tafa’s love for white dress.

The Egbe Ilaparapo, Charity Club and other local associations of which Tafa was the patron, were well represented.

The traditional ruler and prescribed authority in Ila Kingdom and the Orangun of Ila, Oba AbdulWahab Oyedotun, had earlier in the day directed that markets and shops be closed in the town in honour of the deceased.

The royal father also cancelled the regular weekly 0de-ilu chieftaincy meeting.

In a nutshell, the day reflected what was generally described as “the good character of Alhaji Tafa Balogun and gave the direct preaching that whatever you sow, you will reap.”

It was said that “Tafa sowed good seeds and reaped bountifully the good fruits.”

Prayers were offered for his repose at the Ila General Eid praying ground.

At the prayer were his family members, close associates and police officers led by Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, who represented the incumbent IGP.

Traders at the town’s Oja Obi market and Oja bajoko market locked their shops to mourn Balogun.

Besides, the inhabitants also locked their shops to mourn one of the prominent sons of the community.

Majority of the people in Ila-Orangun left their homes and businesses to pay last respect to the former police chief.

According to Premium Times, Sulaiman Kolawole, a foodstuff seller at the Oja Obi market, said he wept when the former police chief was interred.

He said many of the Ila-Orangun indigenes were employed into the police force by the the late former IGP.

“He is somebody that loves his hometown and his people and we also love him. If not for his sacrifice and help he used to offer to us, our town would not have been this developed,” he said.

“I cried today while they were putting his remains inside the grave. He is a loving person and a very good man. He is always ready to listen to us.

“Many of our children have been enrolled in the police force because of his assistance. Recently, some of our people were also employed into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, it was with his intervention they got those opportunities.”

A bread seller in the Oja Obi market who identified herself as Iya Bisi expressed sadness over the demise of the late former Inspector General of Police.

“I was not happy when I heard the news,” she said.

“It was shocking because we never expected that such a good man will leave us at this time. He has been a very good man to everybody in Ila and we will miss his good works.”

Adewunmi Wasiu, Principal of Nurudeen Grammar School, Ila-Orangun, said he lost focus when he received news of the death of the former police chief.

He described Mr Balogun as “a rare gem in Ila.”

“I was shocked when I heard news of the death of Tafa Balogun, when they brought the news to me, I lost focus on what I was doing. I did not know what I am doing again. I am deeply saddened. We have lost a rare gem in Ila.

“I have been opportuned to meet Alhaji Tafa Balogun while I was serving as the National Secretary of Ila National Students Association in 2004. During that time, he employed more than hundred people from Ila into the police force. He is a very good man loved by everybody in this community,” Mr Wasiu said.

Another resident of Ila-Orangun, Abdulganiy Maroof, described the deceased as a “good man.”

“I am really worried about the death of this man. Though, I am not an indigene of this town but I live here and I know what this man has done for his people.”

According to a citation on him, which was obtained exclusively by The Radiance,: “As an Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun had a wonderful career. With his colleagues, he was able to control the menace of Armed Robbery in Nigeria through the instrumentality of Operation “Fire for Fire” that won the admiration of the nation.

“Needless to remind us that he even took the fight against armed banditry across the Nigerian border by facilitating the arrest of one AhmaduTidjani, who was discovered to be sponsoring armed robberies in Nigeria from his base in Republic of Benin. By Tidjani’s arrest, the entire nation was proud of having a Police Force that could perform this feat.

“He was architect of Community Policing concept in Nigeria – a project that had worked wonderfully well in Britain, United States of America, Australia, Canada, etc.

“Also as IGP, he touched the lives of several hundreds of thousands of policemen by promotion – elevation to higher ranks – as at when due – in what has today been tagged: promotion revolution (second to none in the police force).

“He was generally christened “Father of Promotion” by the entire Police Force. For a long time to come Tafa Balogun would be remembered with a loud applause by the entire members of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Tafa Balogun is very gender fair and friendly. It was this aspect of his nature that produced Nigeria Women Mobile Police concept. Thus, it was during his tenure that Women Police were formed into Women Mobile Police for the first time in Nigeria – a concept that was designed to attend to women and children protesters instead of men engaging women and children (civilians) in event of civil protests and demonstration.

“Perhaps it is not out of place to say that Nigeria became the first nation in the world to start the policy which has been adopted by other countries, – even by the developed nations.”

Of his arrest and trial for corruption, a moment in the life of the ex-IGP which the citation described as when “The enemies struck,” it said: “Quite disturbed by his intimidating profile as briefly stated herein, the enemies and detractors struck in 2005.

“Determined to put an end to his ever rising profile, his enemies, in what looked like Police version of Coup-detat, supported by some powerful enemy forces around high places descended heavily on him, bringing up frivolous accusations and charges. They brutalized, persecuted and in display of unguarded terrorism, threw him down in what was seen as an “assassination attempt.”

“On this occasion,Tafa Balogun was quoted as saying: “This is not prosecution but persecution. This is nothing but a manifestation of personal vendetta. This is a case of conviction before trail.”

“The enemy forces and their powerful back-up incarcerated him, here and there in their witch-hunting and vindictive fault finding mission.

“At the height of the travails, Tafa Balogun again was quoted as saying: “Life is a galloping equation. Life is ever fluctuating; today you are up, tomorrow you are forced down; Next tomorrow you are up. By the Special Grace of God, I will bounce back.”

“Like the Biblical Joseph or The Quranic Yusuf, Tafa Balogun survived all the man-made ordeals, trials and tribulations. Thank God he did not die at the hands of the enemy forces. God did for him what He did to the Biblical Job or The Quranic Ayuba.

“But some hours back, Tafa Balogun is no more. “Arise ni arika.” He touched so many lives for better when he was alive.

“May Almighty Allah grant Mustafa Balogun Alijannha fridaous and forgive all his shortcomings.”

According to the citation, “Born in Ila-Orangun Osun on the 25th August, 1947, Ipetumodu was his second town. He started his early primary education in AnsarUdeen Primary School Oke-Ola, Ila-Orangun in 1954. He finished as one of the pioneer products of the school in 1959. Thereafter, he moved to Anglican Grammar School, Otan Ayegbaju in 1960 and passed his West African School Certificate Examination in 1964 in a flying colours.

“He worked briefly as a teacher in the now defunct Ila Local Authority Secondary Modern School in 1965, Tafa Balogun moved to Ibadan, the Western Regional capital in December, 1965. He served the Western Region of Nigeria as a Produce Inspector in the Ministry of Agriculture until September, 1968.

“He sat for and passed three papers in the GCE Advanced Level which qualified him for a direct entry into the University of Lagos in 1968. Between 1968 and June 1971, he was a student of the University and he brilliantly graduated with Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Political Science in the Faculty of Social Sciences in June, 1971.

“After his graduation, he worked briefly as an Assistant Secretary in the Administrative Cadre of the Western State Civil Service between 1971 and 1973. During the period, he successfully passed the confirmation papers of 5 subjects with distinction. His brilliant output was duly appreciated by the Civil Service Commission and this won him a Letter of Commendation which was personally signed by the then Head of Western State Civil Service, Chief Peter T. Odumosu.

“IGP Tafa Balogun (Rtd.) moved from the Civil Service to the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent in 1973. After a-one-year intensive training in Advanced and Superior Police Officers’ wings of the Police College, he also distinguished himself by coming First in a class of many.

“Again, his brilliance made him to win the Inspector General’s Sword of Honour awarded to him for being the Best All Round Cadet Assistant Superintendent of his course by the then Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Kam Salem at a colourful passing out parade in May 1974.

“While in the Police Force, he served at various times as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in various places. He was at a time, Officer-in-charge, Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Panti and Member, Lagos State Armed Robbery Tribunal-a judicial function together with a High Court Judge and top Military Officers of the Nigerian Army.

“At a stage in his career, he was appointed Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the then Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M.A. Gambo, thereby becoming the First Principal Staff Officer in the Nigeria Police Force. Concerned about the wave of crime in the then Bendel State, in 1990, he was moved in as Deputy Commissioner of Police of the command and with the Commissioner of police, the duo accomplished the task of arresting the crime situation in the State then with their *Operation Flush.*

“At another stage in his career between 1984 and 1989, he went back to the University of Lagos to read Law – this time as evening class student. On completion, he bagged the Honours Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB) and topped the class in Second Class Upper Division commonly called 2-1. His colleagues on the Law Programme usually called him “C.J.” (meaning Chief Justice) due to his wonderful performance during the Law Course.

“Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigeria Law School in Lagos in 1990 and after a-one-year programme of intensive studies, he was called to the Nigeria Bar with the award of BL – thus becoming a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“With the creation of Delta State in 1991, he became the Commissioner of Police, Delta State from 1991 to 1993. There, he introduced *Operation Blast* between 1993 and 1994. Tafa Balogun was transferred to Rivers State as Commissioner of Police (the present day combination of Rivers and Bayelsa States); where he introduced *Operation Crush.*

“He was also Commissioner of Police, Abia State from 1994 to 1996. He used *Operation Heat* to deal a severe blow on armed banditry in Abia State and from there he moved up and became Force Secretary (from 1996 to 1998) at the Force Headquarters Kam Salem House, Lagos.

“Between 1998 and 1999, Tafa Balogun, then a Commissioner of Police attended the most prestigious and highest Military Institution in Nigeria, The Nigeria War College along with top Military (Army, Navy and Airforce) officers. Once again, he performed outstandingly well by coming First with his Research Project, adjudged which was the best in Form, Quality and Contents. For this he won the Commandant’s Award with complimentary nostalgic gift as a mark of honour.

In 1999, Tafa Balogun was promoted to the enviable rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 1 (Kano, Kaduna, Kastina & Jigawa) States. While in Zone 1, Kano, he succeeded in checkmating the menace of Ethnic clashes that had hitherto consumed lives of innocent citizens. During his official sojourn in Kano the disturbing menaces of Ethnic clashes became a thing of the past.

“From the position of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), he was promoted Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria on March, 2002. He served Nigeria as one of its indigenous Inspector General of Police from March 2002 – March 2005.

“In the year 2004, Tafa Balogun then as Nigerian Inspector General of Police and due to his outstanding qualities was elected by all the Chiefs of Police of West African countries of Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote de Voire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal and others as President of West African Police Inspector General and Chiefs of Police. He then became the Technical Head of West African Policing.”