THE newly-promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Henry Adebayo Fadairo has expressed deep appreciation to Police Service Commission, the Police high command and the federal government over promotions in the force.
He said that his elevation to the position of an AIG came to him as a surprise.
Fadairo spoke in Abuja at a reception organised in his honour by his kinsmen and retired Permanent Secretary, Mr Olu Adekunle, following his elevation to AIG.
Fadairo, who until his elevation last month, was Commissioner of Police in Charge of Jigawa State Command, commended his immediate and extended family members for their support for his career in the force which had taken him to 21 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during which he said he hardly stayed at home with them.
He said, “in the Police when you enlist as a corporal or as a cadet, you will earn your promotions up to the position of a Commissioner of Police. The remaining three steps, that is, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) are political appointments
“To be candid, I never knew I would be an AIG. I joined the Police 33 years ago as a Cadet ASP, I studied Political Science at the University of Lagos, I am not a politician and I never talked to any politician to lobby for me, I never joined politics.
“I never knew how they came about my name and elevated me to the position of AIG. It is a political appointment, that is why I said it was a surprise to me even as I speak to you now
“Once you reach this level in the force, the next thing left for you is to start packing your loads because it is ether they make you the Inspector General of Police or you are retired,” he said.
Speaking earlier, former Ekiti State Governor and Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (South), Segun Oni, who was the chairman at the occasion, commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour done to the state through the elevation of one of its worthy indigines to such exalted position in the force.
Oni, who spoke through his then Head of Service while in office, Mr Femi Adewumi, urged Fadairo to see his elevation as an opportunity to render more services to his fatherland as several of his colleagues enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force at the same time had dropped by the way side while others still in the service might not have such opportunity in life
Speaking at the occasion, the National President of Igede-Ekiti Progressive Union (IPU) and Abuja chapter of the Union, Barrister Ola Oluwa and High Chief Rotimi Dada respectively described Fadairo as a worthy ambassador of Igede-Ekiti, the state and the country in general.