Former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro has expressed confidence over the competence of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fix Nigeria the same way he fixed Lagos
Okiro said this on Friday in Abuja at the unveiling of the summit planning committee for Tinubu’s support group, ‘Defect Together Movement for Tinubu-Shettima 2023.’
He recounted the anomalies that were in Lagos at the time of Tinubu’s emergence as governor and how he brought peace and development to the state.
““When Tinubu became the governor of Lagos, criminality was at its highest peak in Lagos, robbery, killing, OPC, everything was in shambles and people were running away from Lagos.
“Then, Asiwaju made a special request to the I-G that if he wanted Lagos to be peaceful, he should bring Okiro back to Lagos.
“That was how I found myself back in Lagos, so I worked along with him to be able to keep Lagos calm.
”I left Lagos in glory to the extent that I was promoted from Commissioner of Police to DIG, all glory goes to Asiwaju.
“If as Governor of Lagos, he did it, I have no doubt in my mind, therefore, that given this onerous task of championing the course of the entire Nigeria, he is going to replicate what he did in Lagos,”
Okiro applauded the group for appointing him as the Chairman, Board of Trustees while assuring his commitment to actualize the dream.
On his part, Dr. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, the group’s Chairman, described Okiro as a man of experience, exposure and knowledge, adding that his contributions to nation building made him the apt choice for the position.
He said, “He had contributed immensely to the development of the nation and had a credible career with the Nigeria Police Force, rising to the position of I-G and served as chairman, Police Service Commission
“He will bring his wealth of experience, exposure, goodwill, and foresight to being our chairman because we believe in him to be able to guide us to the promised land.
The Deputy National Campaign Director of the Movement, Dr. Umar Yakassi said that the appointment of Okiro was a deliberate one in cognizance of his pedigree and abilities.
“This is in view of Okiro’s long-term closeness to Tinubu and his vantage position to spur other eminent persons to support the group’s plan.
“Okiro initiated the idea of the Amnesty Programme that doused the tension in the Niger Delta region during the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration, which guaranteed peace in that region.
“So, in all ramifications, Sir Mike Okiro qualifies to be recognised as a foremost statesman in Nigeria, ” he noted.