Okorocha Extols Outgoing CP, Lakanu

Amby Uneze in Owerri
For fighting all criminal activities head long in Imo State, the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, last Monday night led other senior government functionaries to shower encomiums on the outgoing state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Fredrick Lakanu, who is now on transfer and has been promoted to the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

Okorocha, expressing satisfaction on the achievement of the outgoing state police commissioner, described him as an exemplary police officer who came to the state and worked in collaboration with the people of the state to achieve huge success in the area of security.

The governor and his cabinet members had met to bid farewell to Lakanu who is on transfer to the Force headquarters at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Chambers. In attendance were the in-coming state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike; the Commander, 34 FAB, Obinze, and all the heads of other security agencies in the state.
At the emotion-laden event, Okorocha said the state and the people could not thank Lakanu enough because, according to him, “he came to the state, he saw and he conquered,” and the governor then lavished the out-going CP with gifts ranging from land to cash.

He named a road at the back of the police headquarters, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu road, gave him a choice land at Shell-Camp Owerri worth over N25 million; gave him N5million to fuel his car, and asked him to name any part of the state he would like to live even after his retirement from the Police force.
The governor also announced that the Imo people would decorate Lakanu with Imo Merit Award, adding that honour should be given to whom honour is due, and that Lakanu had done well as Commissioner of Police in the state so any honour done to him should be seen as well deserved.

According to him, “I want to thank you for the services you rendered to Imo State and her people. What made you outstanding is that your job comes first before money. Your success came because money never counted in your willingness to succeed. You have set a very high standard for the in-coming commissioner of police. Now Imo people will judge commissioners of police from your standard. I hope and pray that the new CP will measure up.”

The Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere; Chief Judge of the state, Justice Pascal Nnadi; Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu; Chairman state Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri, and state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Getrude Oduka, who spoke at the historic event, all paid tributes to Lakanu for a job well done.

In his speech, Lakanu who is moving to Abuja to be in charge of operations, said: “Imo State is my very best posting ever. The governor established a very good platform for the security operatives in the state to perform. He is so accessible and responds quickly to problems. The appreciative nature of the people of the state helped me to perform optimally. The presence of Imo Security Network equally helped in providing man power and relevant information.”

He added: “The incoming CP is a well-trained and seasoned police officer who may even surpass my achievements. I thank the sister agencies for synergising with the police force for optimal result.”