The controversy surrounding the recent redeployment of the commissioner of police of Ekiti State, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, in the wake of the turbulence that greeted the impeachment notice served the governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose by the aggrieved 19 legislators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to abate. Fresh information from the state capital, Ado-Ekiti revealed that the likeable police commissioner who is also a lawyer decided to tow the professional line in the discharge of his duties but got caught in the web of heavy politicking between the PDP controlled state executive and the APC controlled legislature.
An authoritative source in the police in Ekiti State revealed that the insistence of Mr. Taiwo Lakanu to do what he is constitutionally and duty bound; which mainly is the maintenance of law and order while ensuring the security of the lives and properties of the people of the state placed him in a precarious situation from two opposing political parties who view his refusal to take instructions from either parties as unacceptable.
It is worthy of note that prior to his posting to Ekiti State, Mr. Lakanu has over the years proved himself to be thorough professional in the various commands he has served. Eloquent testimonies abound to this effect. For example in Delta State where he served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) before he was posted to Ekiti State after a stint at the War College, Abuja, he was credited to be a bridge between the other ranks and the police hierarchy.
Known to be a dogged crime fighter from his days at Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos State where he assisted his then immediate boss, Simeon Midenda to crush various high level crimes in Lagos and its environs.
Sources revealed that his redeployment from Ekiti State is now a cause of concern from prominent Obas and Clergies in the State who attest to his meticulous ways of conflict resolution which has led to a great reduction in crime rate in Ekiti State.
In order to save his career from being compromised, Mr. Lakanu was alleged to have requested for redeployment from the state. Trouble started for the Lagos-born police officer when some online portals and blogs reported that he was redeployed from the state because of his alleged role in the impeachment saga of Dr. Fayose when accusing fingers were pointed at him for being the brain behind the attack on the 19 APC legislators on their way to the legislative assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor.
He was accused of selecting officers known to be sympathetic to Dr. Fayose to accompany the legislators to the assembly complex before the legislators were stopped from gaining access to the complex by a group of hoodlums said to be working for Dr. Fayose. However, the officers defended their actions that if they hadn’t stopped the legislators, there would have been serious blood-letting on the streets of Ado-Ekiti. One officer who pleaded anonymity told us that the actions of Taiwo Lakanu and his men saved the lives of the 19 APC legislators. He further stated that Mr. Lakanu deserves commendation and praise rather than the present attempt by some people to tarnish his image. The source revealed that the recall by the IGP was actually to save one of its own reputed to be one of the most intelligent police officers in the force as it was observed that the rowdy scenario was beginning to take its toll on the health of Mr. Lakanu. The attitude of ‘if you are not for me, you are my enemy’ which Ekiti people are known for complicated issues to the extent that, both the Governor and opposition now regard the one-time Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to former IGP, Mr. Tafa Balogun as an enemy because of his neutrality.
A lot of people including his friends are happy that he left the volatile state with his integrity intact unlike some officers who were removed due to complaints and avoidable controversies.
Prior to his appointment as a commissioner of police, he has held several positions where he performed creditably well which made his choice as a commissioner inevitable but unfortunately the political situation in Ekiti, state has robbed the people of Ekiti State of a fine officer who put his all into his duties in order to give Ekiti people a new lease of life and the society to be crime-free.
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