Ebelo Fumpere

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said he has no ambition to become a senator after leaving office, unlike many other state chief executives.

Giving an inkling into his political future, Governor Fayose stated that he would remain in Ekiti State as a businessman, which he said would make him more fulfilled than going to the Senate.

The governor also stated that when his tenure ends in 2018, he would rather remain in the state and continue to contribute to its development, rather than travel to live abroad.

He made these views known at the weekend in Ikere Ekiti at a reception in the town held for Ayotunde Ogunsakin, a son of the soil, who recently retired from the Nigerian police as an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG.

Fayose expressed satisfactions and fulfillment at the development he has brought to the state and said that he would feel more confortable living there than anywhere else in the world.

The governor commended Ogunsakin for his meritorious service to the country, noting that it was not easy to serve in an institution like the Nigerian Police Force for 34 years and come out unscathed.

He stated that he attended the reception for the retired police officer not because he liked him but because he was proud of his achievements.

“I did not come here because I love you but because you are a leading light for Ekiti State and its people and we are proud of you,” Fayose stated.

Apparently referring to the manner Ogunsakin left the police, the governor went philosophical and spiritual, observing that future events would make the retired AIG thank God for leaving at the time he did.

“The righteous are taken away before the day of evil,” Fayose said, paraphrasing the holy Bible, adding “one day AIG Ogunsakin will look back and thank God that he left the police force when he did.”

Still borrowing from the holy book, the governor said “everything works for the good of those that love God, noting that Ogunsakin will live a better life in retirement than when he served in the police.

Governor Fayose also commended another indigene of Ikere Ekiti who was at the reception ceremony, Wole Olanipekun, a respected lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, “for putting his money and heart to the well being and development of the state.”

Fayose said that Olanipekun had been an inspiration for many people in the state who had been guided by the legal luminary’s “steps and footprints.”

Speaking earlier, Ogunsakin thanked God for the opportunity to serve the country as a policeman and for protecting him all through many dangerous assignments.

Quoting another Ekiti indigene, Afe Babalola, a lawyer, educationist and philanthropist, Ogunsakin said that “the duty of policemen and soldiers is to die not lo live.”

He said although serving in the police was a great privilege that has given him fulfillment, he noted that it was also a great sacrifice that comes with enormous risks, noting that many policemen have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in the line of duty.

“Our society must recognize that policemen put in enormous sacrifice into the job of securing the lives and properties of citizens and accord them respect,” he stated.

The retired policeman said that he was thankful to God to be alive and recounted several dangerous assignments during which he had been miraculously rescued or protected.

Earlier in the day at a thanksgiving service held at the St Peter’s Anglican Church, Ikere Ekiti, the presiding minister, A.A. Ayodele, the Archdeacon of Ikere, observed that Ogunsakin, indeed, had cause to praise God and gave two reasons for this.

First, he said that the retired AIG has to thank God because he served the country and brought honour to his family and was not disgraced out of office.

The cleric said Ogunsakin should be thankful also because he survived many dangerous assignments, including postings to Port Harcourt and Bauchi at a time when the cities were hotbeds of criminality.

Ayodele advised Ogunsakin to spend his retirement wisely and stay close to his hometown and also advised him to eschew politics.

Born in 1957, Ogunsakin was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 before his recent retirement. A graduate of Political Science from the Universityof Ile – Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, he served in some strategic police units during his 34 years of service. He was once head of the Interpol unit of the Police Force.

A vastly experienced detective, investigator and prosecutor and a modern policeman, he led many significant investigations in the police and was director of operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, and also briefly served in the same capacity at the Independent corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC.