Former President, Obasanjo showers praises on IGP Usman Alkali Baba • Bags National Daily Man of the Year Award
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presenting the National Daily’s Man of the Year Award to IGP Usman Alkali Baba
Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR has praised the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, for efforts in security of lives and property of Nigerians.
Obasanjo made the commendation on Friday night at Oriental hotel in Lagos while giving a keynote address at the National Daily newspaper’s Awards for year 2022 ceremony.
IGP Usman Baba, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi OFR, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan and 42 other individuals and organisations were given awards for excellent performance in various areas.
Speaking at the event, Obasanjo said that the IGP deserved the award of excellence as the Man of the Year.
Obasanjo said that for the IGP to win the National Daily’s Man of the Year Award, he had done excellently.
“For you to be singled out for the Man of the Year Award by the National Daily, I believe you deserve it.
“Your job is not the one that is particularly glamorous.
“When thieves attack us, we come to you; when we quarrel with our neighbours, we come to you, and you must be ready to answer us even when we may not show appreciation.
“That is why an award like this that singled you out must be appreciated and commended.”
The former president, who spoke on peace, said that peace, security and stability were essential for development, performance, growth and excellence.
According to him, justice, equity and fairness promote peace.
He called on Nigerians to do things rightly at all times and be careful while making choices.
“If your choices are right, the consequences will be right, your performance will be right. If your performance is right, then you obtain excellence.
“If you are going to be successful, you must make things better, do things differently even when others are doing contrary.
“I believe we can achieve excellence,” he said.
In his response during the award presentation, Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba CFR said that the award was motivation as well as a challenge to him and the police to do more.
Alkali Baba gave the assurance that the police would do more in fighting insecurity.
“This award is not for me as an individual, but to motivate the force, the personnel of the force, so that we can do more,” he said.
Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (2nd left) in a warm handshake with the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba (2nd right); as the Board Member, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan (left) and the Editor-in-chief, National Daily, Mr Sylvester Ebhodaghe (right) looks on…
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, thanked the National Daily for the awards, saying that they would spur the beneficiaries to work harder.
Adelusi-Adeluyi said that excellence awards should be given only to possible agents of change to motivate them.
The National Daily Newspaper, Editor-in-chief, Mr Sylvester Ebhodaghe, said that the awards were made to encourage the recipients to do more in the areas they were recognised.
Ebhodaghe said that Nigerians who distinguished themselves should be recognised with a view to spurring them to do more and encourage others to do well.
Other awardees at the event are; Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR as Global Leadership and Peace Icon; Chairman of Juli Plc, Prince Adelusi Adeluyi OFR, MNI bagged Lifetime Achievement Award in Leadership and Service to Humanity; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as African Business Personality of the Decade; Engr. Dr. Ernest Ndukwe OFR with Lifetime Achievement Award in Telecom; Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Innovation and Infrastructure Governor of the Year; Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo with Most Outstanding Innovative Leadership Award; Deputy Governor, Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro as Most Outstanding Peace Builder; Board Member of Lagos State Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan bagged Excellence in Leadership and Service; Hon. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun as Lawmaker of the year (House of Representatives) Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF bagged Most Strategic Government Support Initiative of the year (State); CEO Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as Public Sector Personality of the Decade; Ayo Makun as Most Outstanding Comedy Personality of the Decade; Kanayo O. Kanayo as Nigeria’s Entertainment ICON of the Decade; Publisher, Thisday Newspaper, Prince Nduka Obaigbena as African Media Entrepreneur of the Decade; MD/CEO, African Alliance Insurance Plc, Joyce Ojemudia as Insurance Personality of the Year; GAC Auto Group as Auto Brand of the year among others.
Dignitaries on the IGP Entourage includes; AIG Zone 2, AIG Ari Muhammed Ali, CP Lagos Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, CP Interpol Force HQ Annex, CP Lanre Bankole, DCP Umar Shelleng, Commandant, Police Training School Ikeja, DCP Salihu I. Ishaq, ACP Ola Jide Agboola, ACP Oludotun Odubona, Force PRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, PPRO Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin among others.
L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa; Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba and Publisher, National Daily Newspaper, Mr Sylvester Ebhodaghe 
CP; Board Member, LSSTF, Dr Ayo Ogunsan; CP Interpol Force HQ Annex Lagos, CP Lanre Bankole
Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba; Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr Ayo Ogunsan and his Wife, Dr Mrs Ajoke Ogunsan presenting his award to the IGP during the National Daily Newspaper award in Lagos
