It was a delightful celebration on Friday 1st November 2024 as leaders from various walks of life gathered in their numbers to honour a great, Police officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, CSP Kehinde Johnson Oni Ph.D. who retired after 35 years of dutiful and meritorious service to the fatherland. The celebrant was in high spirits as he reveled and danced to God Who gave him the unique grace to complete his policing career in peace, health, and wellness, with a well and able body to engage in productive activities in his post- retirement years.
Representing the Governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the the Board Member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan. Also in attendance were the who is who in the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Police Command, serving and retired, dignitaries from all walks of life, private security experts, media executives, friends and families of the Onis among others.
Dr. Ayo Ogunsan speaking on behalf of the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated the ‘latest retired officer in Nigeria Police Force’ and appreciated his lovely wife for the support over the years. ‘I am here today because of the recent impact you made under the Lagos Police Command, that drew the attention of the state and the good people of Lagos. I was with the Governor about 3 days ago, and I was telling him that there is an officer, there is a recent impact he made that drew the attention of the State Governor and the good people of Lagos, and even the rest of us here, I don’t want to make a public statement about it because we all know how sensitive that assignment was, but we all know that you delivered that job well, you coordinated that operation well, the governor particularly said I should congratulate you. What he did in his last assignment is much more than a pistol, it was a strategic one, a well coordinated one, let’s celebrate Dr Oni. Mr. Governor is happy, the good people of Lagos are happy for that excellent work and we want to tell you that you will enjoy your retirement.’
The Chairman/CEO of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan speaking further on the personality of CSP Kehinde Johnson Oni (retd) opened that we may be seeing a professor of the Nigeria Police Force soon. ‘I know there must be a reason for obtaining a post graduate degree while in service, I would have expected him to stop at masters level, but for getting his Ph.D, I sense something that we might be producing one of the very few professors in Nigeria Police Force. It is better to serve rich, live rich, than to die rich. Dr Oni you have given your all to this service, you’re going now empty, when I say empty, I’m not talking about pocket-wise but in terms of value that you have added and those you have added value to, the impact that you have made.’
‘Dr Oni, one thing I have learned from you is your humility, calmness, gentleness. I have learned that those who make the loudest noise most times are empty barrels, but those who are calm and cool are always calculated and strategic in their operation, I learned that from you. I thought I was humble but have seen another man that is not only humble someone who is quiet but will always bring good results. May God bless you sir. Madam, the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon your husband.’
The DCP (Operations), Lagos State Police Command, DCP Fatai Tijani spoke about the retired officer, ‘It is not easy to serve the government and federation for 35 years and come out triumphantly. He started with many, many fell by the wayside and many are no more today. By the grace of God, he is retiring today, he has served the federation, he has served the country with all his strength and that calls for celebration. I have known him far back from Akure, that time you were in Okitipupa with one of my colleagues, DCP Adekimi Ojo, I know by now you must have prepared yourself for the next thing to do outside this retiring, that experience cannot be wasted like that.’I know that he’s still going to use it efficiently and effectively somewhere, if in my career I am made the IG, i can make him my consultant in investigation, with the kind of experience I know he has in investigation. I can only wish him well.’
The A/C (Admin) Lagos State Command, ACP Mary Ayim stated: ‘CSP (Dr.) Oni is a very professional officer, I worked with him for about 3 years. Oni is a very gentle, calm, cool and calculated officer, there was a time we almost made him our liaison officer with the Armed Forces. He is a guru in the game, I might have been his senior in rank, but he has a world of experience what I will beg of him is not to go with all these experiences and not be able to consult with us later on, because we have to call him from time to time. He has integrity, if Oni tells you yes, is yes, if he says no, his no. I pray that the good Lord will guide you as you move on because this is not the end, you’re journeying into another phase and God is going to go with you.’
The son of the celebrant, Engr. Olumide Ayomide Oni, speaking on behalf of the siblings said about their father, ‘Though he is an officer in the Nigeria Police Force, he is a father not only a father but a dad indeed many of us has testified of how professional he is his, and we are so privileged to be called one of his own, having served meritoriously, and given his time to service, we can say with all confidence that he has given his time to his family, he has given his all to his children, that why we are where we are today.”He is a responsible leader, he is a role model, so we can walk in the society today with our shoulders high knowing that our father has served with all honesty and integrity, we can say that we are proud as his children and to also thank our mother, she is keeping the house, whenever he is away, making sure everything is in order we thank you so much, Dr Oni for being our father.’
In his vote of thanks,CSP Kehinde Johnson Oni thanked the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun for the opportunity ‘given to me to serve the Nigeria Police and I want to seize the opportunity to thank the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, the Deputy Commissioner of Police here present and most importantly I want to appreciate the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his great contribution towards curbing crime in Lagos state as a whole.”I want to thank the person I can describe as my brother, an icon, a philanthropist par excellence. It is very rare to see him on occasions like this. When I saw him in our midst this afternoon, I was very happy, it is a great honor to have him in our midst, he’s no other than Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, God bless you, God will honor you. I also want to thank our A/C admin, she’s a mother and administrator par excellence.”I want to thank everyone that is here present this evening, all the tactical Commanders, HODs, I appreciate all of you for coming. You have come to celebrate with me, rejoice with me, it is my prayer that the shout of joy shall not seize in your homes. Every achievement in life takes time and it takes preparation, I’m happy I’m retiring today but I am saying it categorically that I am about to go further in the Police Force because I was standing on the shoulder of giants.’
‘I have worked with so many giants, one of them is sitting right here today, DCP Fatai Tijani. DIG Abiodun Alabi, AIG Fayoade, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, presently CP Ishola Olanrewaju, and CP Disu Olatunji. Others are retired CP Owoseni, retired CP Edgar, and retired AIG Hakeem Odumosu. I want to say that I have gained 1 or 2 things from these giants, I have learned administration, courage, firmness, technological knowhow, etc.’