By Dapo Olaosebikan
This Saturday, July 22, 2023, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, CFR, NPM, mni, Nigeria’s former Inspector General of Police, former Chairman, Nigeria Police Service Commission and a National Icon, will be 74! Of all the millions of quotes about greatness ever put forth by humanity, the one by late global music legend, Robert Nesta Marley a.k.a Bob Marley, that “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”, epitomizes existential being of Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, CFR NPM, mni. For, indeed, the life of Sir Okiro as a professional of international repute, leader of the Force, elder statesman, national leader of thought, intellectual, role model to millions and family man, is pillared and punctuated by integrity, ability to tirelessly affect those around him positively and endless streams of ingenious creative social designs to make Nigeria, his fatherland, great.
At the 2009 bowing out ceremony marking his exit from the Nigeria Police Force, where he continues to remain a foremost and iconic influencer of all-round positive transformation of the prime law enforcement titan till date, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua described sir Okiro in golden and glowing manner. According to late President, Okiro is “a resilient achiever who never believes in failure” and who set a new dawn for the Police Force and ushered in an era of policing in a democratic Nigeria”. Of course, this is who he is! Sir Mike Okiro is indeed a consummate achiever and loather of failure in its entire ramifications. Okiro was born in Oguta in Imo State on July 22,1949. He hails from Egbema in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. After his elemetary and secondary education, he attended the prestigious University of Ibadan where he bagged a Bachelor of Art (Hons) in English. Having settled down as a student of the premier university, his campus life was laced with remarkable activities, Apart from being a brilliant, intelligent, resourceful and courageous student, he was very radical and has gut to challenge policies he perceived will erode the rights of fellow students. He was a student union leader, political activist, writer, social crusader and advocate against rights abuse. He was a very restless student and he got involved in everything: social activities, politics and writing! He was a key leading spirit and driver of the campus political front in his years at the university. He participated actively in every political activism. He was the editor of the campus magazine, called The Bug. He was the editor of his hall’s magazine, The Dome. He was also the editor of his departmental publication, Idoto. He had an Olivetti typewriter he used to roll out his magazine. For twenty four hours of the day, Okiro was always busy!
He later attended University of Lagos for a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA). To cement his erudition in law enforcement, he went further to get a degree in law (LLB) and also a Master’s degree in law, (LLM) both at the University of Jos, Plateau State. In addition, he also holds Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State and Novena University, Delta State and the University of Jos. He is an Alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Police and Strategies Studies (MPSS), Kuru, Jos, Sir Mike Okiro is the ultimate complete police officer and leaders in Nigeria! He joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on August 1, 1977, shortly after completing his mandatory one-year National Youth Service programme. He went through all the ranks from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) except Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and he served in very critical positions in the Force. He served in several operational and command positions until 2009 when he retired as Inspector General of Police. Sir Mike Okiro who equally served many in-house Police Panels in the course of his enviable career, held several notably sensitive positions in the Nigeria Police Force.
He was Divisional Crime Officer, Central Police Station, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Oyibo; Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Uwani, Enugu, Enugu State, Chief Superintendent of Police (Administration), Police College, Ikeja, DPO Bode Thomas, Suru Lere, Lagos, 2i/c and later Area Commander, Area ‘H’, Shomolu, Lagos. He was also a member of the defunct Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal, Lagos, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and late Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Operations, Lagos State Police Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command; Deputy Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos Plateau State, Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, from where he was elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) ‘B’ Department (Operations) 2002.
In 2007 Mike Okiro made history when he was named the first Inspector General of Igbo extraction by the late president, Umar Musa Yar’Adua. He held the position till 2009 when he retired after 32 year of sterling career, before his retirement in 2009; Okiro released a book titled “Policing Nigeria In A Democracy” in commemoration of his 70th birthday. In his 32 years career in the Nigeria police Force, Okiro served in various capacities. It is thus hitting the nail directly on the head calling Sir Okiro Architect of Modern Nigeria Police Force. Of a fact, cataloging his incredible strides may mean writing a very big book entirely. But, it’s quite apt to state some of his strides during his tenure as the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These include. Working toward providing a secure environment for the actualisation of President’s vision of placing Nigeria among the world’s top 20 economics by the year 2020. Conscientiously working for re-positioning the Nigeria police in the areas of quality training behavioral and attitudinal Change, Community Policing and service delivery.
Significantly improving the welfare and morale of officers and men, by enhancing upward salary package and improved logistics particularly via the owner-occupier houses. Creating a channel of communication to bridge the gap in the Police/Public divide, the philosophy that gave birth to the Force news stable, called “THE DAWN” newspaper. Reinstating a number of officers who were forced into early retirement and also made police service more open, receptive and responsive to troubled spots in the country. Expanding and upgraded the Intelligence Unit into a Department. Establishing the Police Intelligence School in llorin, Kwara State. Making computer literacy in the Nigeria Police Service compulsory and building the Police ICT College in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Being the first Inspector General of Police that introduced AK47 rifles into the police force, and convincing the Federal Government to install CCTV cameras in Abuja and major cities to check crime and criminal activities. Indeed, there is much to write about the impactful life of Sir Mike Mbama Okiro. As a matter of fact and in every regard, it is incontrovertible that the Nigeria Police Force, under his leadership performed comparatively well with Police of other big nations outside Africa considering the giant strides it made in the areas of administration, recruitment, training, housing and general logistics, among others. Undeniably, during his tenure as the 13th IGP in Nigeria, Okiro put the Nigeria Police Force on a comfortable pedestal of achieving the ultimate goal of ensuring domestic peace, law and order that guarantee a safe environment conducive to economic development as well as the social and psychological well-being of all Nigerians.
One of the most detribalised Nigerian leaders alive today and an enviable family man, Sir (Dr.) Mike Mbama Okiro is a man of many parts and immense literary prowess. Also a poet, he has authored six books of different genres despite the herculean task associated with his chosen career. His books include the following: Policing Nigeria In A Democracy, Overcoming Security Challenges In Nigeria, Nigeria: The Restructuring Controversy and The Legal Implications of The Mismanagement of Public Funds In Nigeria which he co-authored. His other literary works include Characteristic Features of Egbema Folks, Peace and The Nation (University of Ibadan Alumni Lecture Series); Security Implication of the Proliferation of Small Arms in Nigeria and A Town Like Gashua (a collection of Poems).
Sir Mike Mbama Okiro is member of many esteemed social bodies. A devout Christian and enviable family man, he is a Knight of St. John of Jerusalem and elder statesman.
Olaosebikan([email protected]), a veteran journalist and author, writes from Abuja