It was an evening of eulogy, melodious songs, comedy, and dance last weekend as AIG Zone 2, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi, Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, Wife of the former Military Governor of Lagos, Mrs. Gladys Ndubuisi Kanu, CEO of Badinson Security, Mr. Matthew Ibadin, Officers of Zone 2 Command, friends and family of the former AIG in charge of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun), AIG Ari Muhammed Ali gathered in Lagos for a sendforth party in his honour.
The current AIG of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun), AIG Olatoye Durosinmi who is a good friend and coursemate of the celebrant was the Chairman of the occasion. Other dignitaries and senior police officers in attendance include the Board Member, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan; Wife of the former Military Governor of Lagos, Mrs. Gladys Ndubuisi Kanu; MD/CEO of Badinson Security, Mr. Matthew Ibadin; DC ZCID, DCP Wale Ajayi; DCOperations, Zone 2, DCP Martins Nwogohi; CSP Isa Lawal; CSP Omotayo Adegbite; CSP Ajayi Babatope; CSP Abiodun Bamgbose; Zonal PPRO, SP Umma Ayuba among others.
The Chairman of the occasion and current AIG of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun), AIG Olatoye Durosinmi expressed his joy at the event. ‘I want to say thank you to all our friends and colleagues gathered here I came here to celebrate a friend of 34 years. He is moving to a higher level and it is worth celebrating.’
Reminiscing the policing career of Ari Muhammed Ali’s alongside his, Durosinmi stated: ‘As young men, we started together our careers at the Police Academy. God has blessed all of us, our family is growing. We came to Lagos together from Delta, he was DPO Apapa, I was DPO Agege. I am sure that very soon we will hear announcement of something bigger.
The Board Member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan also paid tribute to the exceptional Ari Muhammed Ali. ‘You have shined in operations, administration, crime fighting, and community peace building. You have excellent human and personnel relationship, your humility is unparalleled and incomparable.’
‘As you move to Force Headquarters Abuja as AIG Community Policing, continue to be on the spotlight for good. Community policing is critical to our security matter now in Nigeria, the Police management knows your worth, that’s why they have placed you there. May God bless and strengthen you’, the Chairman of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan remarked.
On his part, DCP Wale Ajayi said: ‘Oga AIG Ari Muhammed Ali is more Lagosian than someone born in Lagos. He has become a household name in Lagos. He is a father, mentor, administrator, teacher, he has time for everybody. I met him first in Apapa and you can hardly hear him shout on anybody. The welfare of the officers is his priority. He addresses his officers by name rather than by office. So this makes the environment conducive for officers. He is a friend of the high and low. We pray that God will continue to take care of him and his family.’
Also, DCP Martins Nwogohi remarked: ‘Oga AIG Ari Muhammed Ali does not only know the job, he is interested in the welfare of his men. This is a promotion in disguise. We are looking forward to great news. We wish you all the best. God will continue to be with you.
The celebrant, AIG Ari Muhammed Ali who was visibly excited about the honour was full of thanksgiving to everyone who had come out to accord him the honour. He said: ‘I feel proud and happy that I am alive on my two feet to see all that is happening here. I tell people that the evil men do no longer live after them but with them. If you are good, you will see it here and if you are bad, you will see it here. You will hate yourself for it on the day you are transferred or retired, it will surely manifest because your constituency will show you in that light that you are bad. There is nothing you can do at that time to change people’s perspectives.’
AIG Ali who is now AIG in charge of Community Policing at the Force HQ Abuja advised other police officers, ‘Policing is a profession that will make you and show you to everyone in your family and country. I have been celebrated twice internationally, in Dubai in 2019 by Security Watch Africa and last year in Banjul though I couldn’t go but I sent a representative. You should try as much as possible to add value to people’s lives when you have the opportunity. I detest a situation when someone will come to me for help and will return sad. I challenge you, you are born to serve and to add value.’
The night ended with merriment and dance.
