Outgoing Trans Amadi Police DPO Constructs New Police Station In Ph

ASK not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” –John F. Kennedy

This popular maxim formed the basis of the action of the immediate past Divisional Police Officer in charge of Trans Amadi Division in Rivers State Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sola Akinyede, when he decided to change the face of the Division, not by renovating, but by constructing an entirely new building for the Divisional Police Officer.

Though he was the incumbent DPO when he started the construction of the building, Akinyede did the work with the thought of leaving behind a good legacy, knowing very well that he would not tarry long at the Division because his promotion to the next rank was imminent then. He was deterre because of belief in the quoted maxim above, and also because he is someone with the belief that as a public office holder, one should leave a place better than the way one met it.

So it was an elated Assistant Commissioner of Police Akinyede who invited his bosses, starting from the state Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature to the Deputy Commissioners of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police, other officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State Police Command, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, representatives of corporate organizations, community members, as well as friends, to celebrate the completion and commissioning of the DPO’s office on Wednesday, January 21, 2015.

The large and airy DPO’s office is fixed with air conditioners and comfortable settees for visitors while all necessary security measures that could safeguard the life of the DPO were also considered and included the building construction.

In his welcome address during the commissioning, the former DPO, who has been posted out of the state command because of his elevation to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in October 2014, said that he was moved to construct  a new structure as the office of the Divisional Police Officer, Trans-Amadi Division, because the structure he met on ground was “not befitting”.

He disclosed that on his resumption of office the police station on June 24, 2014, during the administration of the current Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin as Rivers State Commissioner of Police, he discovered that the existing DPO’s office at Trans Amadi Division did not suit the status of DPO, in addition to the fact that it was close to station cell. This, he pointed out, could expose the DPO to danger.

“Bearing in mind the vision of our pragmatic Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, rather than complain about the situation, I resorted to borrowing a leaf from the mission statement of the IG which is ‘to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities’”, Akinyede stated.

In addition, the Assistant Commissioner of Police said he ruminated over the popular statement of 35th president of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy, and decided to share his dream with senior officers of the Division. He said he also felt the need to renovate a recreational hall which could serve as a temporary accommodation for the rank and file of the Division, as well as other policemen on special duties.

“I appealed to corporate bodies doing business within our jurisdiction and other good citizens of Rivers State to partner with us in making the vision a reality. To God be the glory, the building was completed in a spate of five months,” Akinyede told the guests that graced the occasion.

The AC also thanked those who partnered with him by contributing materials, cash and technical expertise to make the project a huge success.

Speaking at the occasion, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alkali Shaba said that Akinyede deserved commendation for doing a very good job. The CP noted that many DPOs had passed through the Division without putting such a structure in place, saying that what Akinyede did depicted him as a good leader who was leaving a good legacy after his promotion.

“This project will remain forever and the name of the DPO who constructed it can never be forgotten whenever the building is mentioned. If Akinyede had decided to pocket all the cash and materials he was given, nobody would have known; but he decided to use them for the good of all. The Command is very happy with him,” Bature stated.

He challenged other DPOs to emulate the good gesture by taking initiatives that would develop their Divisions.

One of the invited guests, the Caretaker Chairman, Port Harcourt City Council, Nnamdi Nwuche, in his comments said it was amazing to witness what a great police officer had done, not only for his officers and men, but for the entire people of Port Harcourt.

Saying that he was happy to be associated with the development the police station had brought to Trans Amadi area, Nwuche added that there is no way the police station would be mentioned in the future without making reference to AC Sola Akinyede.

Also, the paramount ruler of Oginigba, the community under which the police station falls, Eze Gershon Bekwele Odum praised the efforts of the AC in constructing the new office, while he appealed that the police station should be addressed with its proper name which is Oginigba police station, instead of Trans Amadi police station which it is being called by all and sundry.

AC Akinyede also used the occasion to introduce the new DPO posted to the Division, CSP Tissing Nandiyak, after which awards were presented to senior police officers. This was followed by the cutting of the tape by DC Shaba to open the new office for use.

Present at the occasion were the Area Commander, Metro, AC Aliyu Garba, the Command’s PRO, Muhammadu Ahmad and other dignitaries from corporate organisations