Lesson

CP Odumosu: A lesson in self-importance

The information that Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu requested the arrest of 4 security guards, who denied him entry into a gated group, Brooks Estate, is much much more instructive than a simplistic adjudication of who is ideal or wrong. Media experiences mentioned that Odumosu was humbled by mere security guards who would not make it possible for him passage. Furious, Odumosu requested their arrests.

Given that the information broke, community remarks have been divided concerning these who imagined the stability guards must have granted Odumosu entry dependent on general public recognition and all those who believed Odumosu went far too considerably. Both equally look to be missing the likelihood to talk to where by the individual Odumosu was likely to take a look at in the estate was while all that drama took place. If there is 1 question I would like answered, it is to identify if it occurred to Odumosu — whilst he negotiated an entry at that gate publish — that his intended host did not treatment that much about obtaining him?

In a nation the place electric power is basically worshipped, some other element should have accounted for how Odumosu was addressed outside of the presumed intransigence of the security officials. Imagine about it, the CP was there at the gate put up, accompanied with the pomp and paraphernalia of his workplace, but those people 4 safety officials turned him down out of sheer overzealousness? That is hard to consider. From my expertise heading through gated communities in Lagos, most of the protection officers stationed at the gate write-up have entry to the residents’ phone figures. They would have tried out contacting the man or woman Odumosu arrived to see on his behalf, seeing he was a VIP. Provided the mother nature of their careers, 1 can acquire it for granted that they understood who Odumosu was, and they could fairly grant him accessibility based on that courtesy. Also, enable us element in the probability that that was not the first time Odumosu was browsing the place.

Also, I want to feel Odumosu himself identified as his host on the mobile phone to enable them know he was staying held up at the gate submit. If the human being even now did not do significantly to facilitate Odumosu’s entry, it really should have transpired to him that he was an undesired visitor. Who leaves a entire Commissioner of Police at the gate for at least 50 {22377624ce51d186a25e6affb44d268990bf1c3186702884c333505e71f176b1} an hour? What could be the length from the person’s property to the gate article that they did not do a lot to retrieve the CP when he stood there?

What is much much more likely is that those stability males took their cue from the person Odumosu had occur to see. If the individual had believed Odumosu’s go to was important, they would have produced some exertion to go to the gate write-up to get the CP. That the supposed host remaining Odumosu at the gate post for an extended time although he haggled with the stability men must have taught the CP that he could possibly not be a significantly valued visitor and that his existence at the social function he was likely to go to was so significant. If the host could not depart no matter what they were being carrying out to either go to the gate post to aid his entry or contact the stability guys on the cellular phone to give them the necessary recommendations, it usually means they did not want to see the CP.

Of study course, the Lagos police spokesperson attempted some hurt control by stating Odumosu was at Brooks Estate to “see an individual at a operate the place an urgent matter bordering on stability was to be discussed.” This is an particularly laughable excuse by publicity strategists who do not imagine issues via ahead of sending out push releases. If Odumosu certainly experienced an formal assembly, really should he not have scheduled an appointment in a conducive area like his business office? Of all the spots a CP would talk about urgent protection matters, it had to be a social occasion having put inside of a gated group he could not even entry! Who discusses “urgent stability matters” more than plates of jollof rice and the din of audio blaring out of the speakers? On a facet be aware, I advocate that some of these govt officers consider a study course in Logic 101 before they create their foolish minor press releases. It is 1 thing for them to imagine so badly of community intelligence that they make puerile explanations, it is another point fully to betray their individual absence of acumen in the process.

Either way, purchasing folks arrested is erroneous, a pointless show of power by an officer who identified he was no longer as critical as he imagined himself to be.

It was just past Wednesday when the Lagos State Dwelling of Assembly honoured Odumosu for his solutions and bade him properly as he begun his closing month — this January — as each the CP and policeman. With only a few months remaining right before Odumosu thoroughly retires from assistance, it is fairly possible he was denied entry mainly because he is regarded as to have served out the applications for which the large folks who dwell in gated communities used to invite large people today like him into their social circles. He did not have to consider his stress out on the lowly officers who could have been performing on guidelines from their companies.

For a guy with only a few months remaining right before retirement, it is implausible that what took him to Brooks Estate had just about anything to do with urgent safety fears. Specified the way the civil assistance paperwork operates, a man with 30 times still left just before his retirement would be getting ready his handover notes, not pursuing lively do the job. The people he was going to see in the estate should, of study course, know he is leaving his exalted placement. If they do not reveal as a great deal zeal to welcome him to their get-togethers, he should have taken it in his stride. In a modern society where just about everyone’s social relevance is a matter of who you know and who knows you back again, individuals understandably cultivate friendships with community officers like a CP for a reason. As soon as you go away the place of work and are no for a longer time as practical for their functions, your cellphone stops ringing.

Rather than throw his bodyweight all around, Odumosu ought to have wrapped what ever was remaining of his dignity with his agbada and still left the location. He should have identified that these protection officers at the gate could not have been performing on their have whim, viewing what he represented. His vacation again to his residence — or where ever he selected to go afterwards — must have been an possibility for him to reflect on his social existence when he no for a longer time has formal electricity. No matter if he arrives to terms with it or not, with his pending retirement from public provider, he is getting “former” CP. Those people who employed to butter up to him are waiting for his successor to be named so they could begin sending out their occasion invites. The times are even now coming when Odumosu would get in touch with some of those people persons who applied to grovel just before him even though he was in support, and they would deliberately miss his get in touch with.

In a culture like Nigeria in which survival entails sucking up to individuals in power, the CP’s humiliation is the truth of no more time possessing what built men and women fraternise with you or even stoop in advance of your almighty existence. Clout chasers who use condition officials to bolster their social impact are often that fast to shift on. What follows a community officer at this late stage of their career are the testimonies of the lives they improved.

Most likely, at some place, it lastly dawned on Odumosu also. Purchasing the arrest of individuals security officers must be a desperate effort and hard work to exhibit what he could continue to do with the electric power he embodies for one more couple of weeks. For him to acquire out his anger on the little fries, he have to have been severely humiliated. His actions at these kinds of a vulnerable instant are a lesson for general public officers who miscalibrate the pounds of their self-worth, only to discover out in any other case in the last hrs of their profession and start out throwing a tantrum.

Copyright PUNCH.

All legal rights reserved. This product, and other electronic information on this site, might not be reproduced, released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in full or in part without having prior express published permission from PUNCH.

Get in touch with: [email protected]

Related Articles

Back to top button