By Dahiru Lawal<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is often said that in times of national crisis, emotional outbursts can obscure facts. Such is the case with Bolaji O. Akinyemi\u2019s recent opinion piece titled \u201cA Spent Horse in a Nation at War: Why IGP Egbetokun Must Go.\u201d While passionate, it tragically misses the mark on substance, ignores established facts, and risks undermining the tireless efforts of the Nigeria Police Force at a time when national unity and support are paramount.
Mr. Akinyemi\u2019s central thesis revolves around a single moment during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu\u2019s town hall in Benue State, a moment where the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was called upon but did not respond publicly. What Mr. Akinyemi failed to mention, perhaps conveniently, is that the President\u2019s question was more of an open prompt for reflection and reassurance rather than a demand for an instant microphone answer. More importantly, those seated close to the IGP heard his quiet but immediate response: \u201cWe are on the trail of the perpetrators, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The IGP had already visited the affected Yelewata community prior to the President\u2019s visit, paid condolences to the Governor and people of Benue, and assured Nigerians of swift and strategic police response. That assurance was not just lip service, within 48 hours of the presidential visit, 26 suspects involved in the Yelewata massacre were arrested and weapons recovered, including two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and eight AK-47 rifles. That\u2019s not the footprint of a spent horse, it\u2019s the record of a committed and competent officer at work.
Since the attack, the IGP has maintained tactical police presence across Benue, deployed advanced units to forestall further violence, and engaged in meaningful dialogue with both Fulani and local community leaders to restore peace. Intelligence-led policing continues to dismantle suspected bandit enclaves while recovering arms and arresting more suspects. In fact, credible reports indicate that the attackers had planned to extend their carnage to three more local government areas. The IGP\u2019s swift and decisive action stopped those plans cold.These are tangible outcomes, not political rhetoric.
Tenure Elongation: Facts vs. Fiction
Mr. Akinyemi\u2019s claim that IGP Egbetokun\u2019s tenure is \u201celongated\u201d is not only misleading, it is legally unfounded. The new Police Act is explicit: the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police is a fixed term of four years, irrespective of age. IGP Egbetokun was duly appointed within the provisions of this law, and there is no breach whatsoever.To suggest that tenure extension is a \u201cmoral failure\u201d is to misrepresent the law, mislead the public, and politicise a legitimate appointment. If we were to remove the IGP or service chiefs after every attack, as Mr. Akinyemi implies, there would be no continuity or long-term strategy in a nation of over 200 million people facing complex, decades-old security challenges.
Let\u2019s Be Honest About the Real Motives
Let\u2019s call a spade a spade. The calls for IGP Egbetokun\u2019s removal are not rooted in questions of competence or performance, they are driven by narrow interests and, perhaps, an undercurrent of politics. It is easy to sensationalize a moment, but far more difficult to acknowledge the hard, often thankless work being done daily by our security agencies. The police, under IGP Egbetokun\u2019s leadership, have made hundreds of arrests, recovered weapons across troubled zones, thwarted multiple terrorist plots, and rebuilt community-police trust through grassroots engagements.Are there still challenges? Of course. But to single out the IGP as the symbol of national failure is not only unfair, it is reckless.
Constructive criticism is healthy for democracy, but deliberate misrepresentation of facts does no one any good. What we need at this point is not a change in leadership based on sentiment, but a change in attitude, where public commentators, religious leaders, and opinion influencers partner with our security institutions to amplify accurate information and build confidence in our systems.IGP Egbetokun is not a \u201cspent horse.\u201d He is a public servant in active duty, shouldering one of the most demanding responsibilities in the country today. He deserves both scrutiny and support, but above all, he deserves fairness.
In conclusion, leadership must be judged by impact , not optics.Nigeria\u2019s insecurity is a legacy problem. It demands vision, coordination, and persistence\u2014not impulsive reactions or emotional triggers. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has demonstrated all three, and unless the goal is to weaken the morale of those on the frontlines, we must stop politicizing police leadership at every turn.The time to support strategic reforms and reward proven action is now, not tomorrow<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Dahiru Lawal It is often said that in times of national crisis, emotional outbursts can obscure facts. Such is the case with Bolaji O. Akinyemi\u2019s recent opinion piece titled…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11004,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pages"],"yoast_head":"\n