-

How Shagari Made Adewusi Nigeria’s Youngest IGP @45 – Alao-Akala

By DAPO FALADE

The late Chief Sunday Adewusi became the youngest ever to rise to the rank of the Inspector General of Police in Nigeria due to his sterling performance in ending the bloody activities of the dreaded Maitatsine group in the northern part of the country during the Second Republic.

The late President Shehu Shagari, appointed the late Adewusi as the substantive IGP on April 1, 1981, to replace Adamu Suleiman who was then acting in that capacity, in recognition of his efforts at maintaining Nigeria’s internal security at that period.

A former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, made the disclosure in his autobiography, ‘Amazing Grace’, recently launched in Ibadan, saying the late Adewusi became the IGP at the age of 45, making him the youngest ever to get to that rank.

Alao-Akala, who was the ADC/Personal Assistant to the late Chief Adewusi, wrote in the book that the successful onslaught against the Maitatsine group marked the turning point in the career of the late police boss, making it possible for him to become the IGP.

The former governor, who voluntarily retired as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in 1995, further disclosed that he was with Adewusi (then AIG FEDOPS) as the Operations Officer when the police were drafted to Kano to quell the Maitatsine uprising in December, 1980.

He said police officers were being killed by Maitatsine elements, using bows and arrows, not guns and the police could not infiltrate the enclave of the enemy because it was designed in such a way that it confused outsiders.

See also BREAKING: Abdulrasheed Maina released from prison

“The operation was in jeopardy until Adewusi came up with a plan. He quickly wrote a letter to the acting IGP, Adamu Suleiman, the [then] Kano State governor, Abubakar Rimi and the president, Usman Shehu Shagari.

“In the letter, he requested the help of the Nigerian Army to mobilise its armoured car fleet to assist the operation for only a week, and the rest, he promised, the police would accomplish.

“When this request was granted, Adewusi briefed the army about the operation. At the time, Brigadier Ibrahim Babangida [former military president] was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps.

“He [Babangida] had made a name earlier with the bravery he displayed when he led the Army Armoured Corps to flush out the leader of the failed coup of February 13, 1976 from the studios of Radio Nigeria, Ikoyi,” Alao-Akala wrote.

He said the police used the armoured cars to protect themselves against the arrows of the enemies, adding that the cars were formed as walls on the left and right flanks so that the police were not hit by the poisonous and deadly arrows.

He also disclosed that the shield also enabled members of the police who had local knowledge of the area to lead the charge and onslaught against the Maitatsine stronghold.

“That was all the AIG FEDOPS, Adewusi needed! The police then demolished the Maitatsine fortress and completely wiped it out. Over 4000 lives were lost in that single operation.

“The police put an end to the needless slaughter that the Maitatsine were reputed for. President Shagari was highly pleased and so was the Kano State governor, Abubakar Rimi and the entire Nation of Nigeria.

See also PRESS RELEASE Conduct credible, unbiased LG election, Makinde charges OYSIEC …inaugurates commission *'I won't interfere with your activities' Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, inaugurated the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), charging its members to deliver credible, free and fair local government election in the state. The governor stated that the commission, headed by Mr. Isiaka Olagunju, has been saddled with the responsibility of overseeing an election, which outcome will reflect the will of the people. He charged the commission to, within the shortest possible time, make the will of the people prevail by conducting a local government election that is unbiased. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor, while speaking at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, venue of the swearing-in, said his administration is ready to conduct the local government election, as it has allocated money for OYSIEC in the 2020 Budget. He promised that his administration would not interfere with the activities of the commission. He said: "I want to thank the House of Assembly for confirming you in a timely manner. I hope that you will also imbibe the sense of urgency and conduct credible local government election in Oyo State within the shortest possible time. “We knew this would come and we already allocated money in the Oyo State Budget for this year to conduct the election. Within the shortest possible time, please give us elected officials at the local government level that are known to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." Governor Makinde, who said he has not yet indicated whether he will be running for another term in 2023 or not, as it is too early to be thinking of that for now, appealed to the opposition in the state not to overheat the polity. He urged politicians not to see elections as war or a do-or-die affair, but allow the will of people to prevail. "Some parties said they want to unseat me in 2023. It is okay, but I have not indicated the interest to run in 2023, as it is still too early. I may or may not. I have a second address and that is what we want to encourage in our space. “This board will have free hand. If they want to unseat me, it's fine; but they should contest and win many councillorship seats as much as possible so that we can know they are really serious. I will encourage them and others to contest in 2023. "Who knows who is going to be alive in the next hour? We are only sure of this moment. So, they should calm down. Elections should never be war or a do-or-die affair. Election in a democracy should be about the will of the people.” He added that members of the board are men and women of integrity with track records, admonishing them to do the work that will make people of the state proud of them. "I believe that the mandate of this board is to conduct an inclusive election. So, gone are the days when the governor of the state will manipulate matter so that some political parties will not field candidates. We are not here to play games. "So, I am saying to this board that the will of the people must remain sacrosanct. We have sent your names to the House of Assembly. We believe you are men and women of integrity. I have met one or two of you personally. It is not about the political party but the interest of the state and I believe the state will be proud of you,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the board members shortly after the swearing-in, the chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Olagunju, assured the people of the state that the board will conduct a credible and transparent local government election. He called on the people to have confidence and trust in the commission, adding that they will not be biased towards any political party and that the will of the people will prevail. Olagunju said: "The essence of inaugurating the board is to organise and manage local government election; that is our mandate and we have to follow it. "We were just inaugurated today. We need to go back to the office, see what is happening before we can talk about when to hold the election. It is possible this year but everything depends on the circumstances that we find ourselves when we get to the office. "When His Excellency was inaugurating the commission, he gave us the mandate that we must ensure that the will of the people prevail and that it is sacrosanct. So, we want to assure the people of Oyo State that we will conduct a transparent, credible and acceptable election. "I can also assure that people will have confidence and trust in the commission. It will be our joy that all political parties will participate in the election process. The governor has also said that we should not favour any party, because he is not in support of impartiality." The Board members include: Comrade Adeniji Babatunde, Alhaja Ganiyat Saka, Mr. Emmanuel Olanrewaju, Chief Kunmi Agboola, Mr. Aderemi Ayoade, Mr. Sunday Falana and Mr. Adeojo Elias. The swearing-in was attended by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka; Head of Service, Mrs. Ololade Agboola and other cabinet members, as well as chieftains of the PDP in the state, led by the chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha. Signed: Taiwo Adisa Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde September 3, 2020.

“The outcome was similar to the result of [the Biblical] David’s victory over Goliath. Nigerians were full of praises for Adewusi, from the corridors of power to major streets in the country.

“In a moment when he was needed, he had risen to the occasion. To the powers-that-be, he had demonstrated immense capacity to manage men and materials. By this time, I had become his personal assistant.

“The full report of the operation got to President Shagari on how Maitasine was defeated. The report highlighted Adewusi’s pivotal role and strategy which brought the army and the police to collaborate successfully for the first time.

“Meanwhile, immediately after the defeat of the Maitatsine insurgents, Mr. Adewusi wrote another report to the acting IGP and the president. In this letter, he requested that the Federal Government funded the police to enable them acquire armoured cars and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC).

“The report contained other far-reaching recommendations that would ensure that the police was well equipped to guarantee the internal security of the country and defend the nation’s democracy.

“President Shagari was impressed and it was agreed that Adewusi be made IGP to implement his ideas for the police. The IGP at that time, Suleiman, was only in acting capacity.

“He [Suleiman] was consequently removed and Mr. Adewusi was promoted to IGP on April 1, 1981. He is the youngest IGP in the history of the nation as he was only 45 at that time,” the former Oyo State governor wrote.

News served as it breaks!

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply