It was a shower of encomiums and praises when friends gathered to celebrate the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, Saeed Abdullahi, as he took his exit from the state.
Abdullahi was feted, on Thursday, by top officers of the security agencies domiciled in the state as he is on transfer to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The former Oyo NDLEA Commander was transferred to Abuja to become the Deputy Director of Establishment of the anti-narcotics agency.
Top security chiefs in the state gathered at the Officers’ Mess, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Idi-Ape, Ibadan to celebrate the man described as a quiet and gentle but very firm officer.
The host, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Usman, described Commander Abdullahi as a pleasant officer who promoted good working relationship among the security agencies in the state.
Major General Usman, the 43rd GOC of the 2 Division, was represented by Brigadier General Kingsley Nwoko who said the former Oyo NDLEA Commander is a gentleman but a stern of officer.
“Commander Saeed Abdullahi has a cool mien outwardly. He is a man of few words but loaded with actions and this reflected in his works as the Oyo State Commander of the NDLEA.
“He is very diligent in his work and the results can be seen in the numbers of arrests and seizures he was able to make in the war against illicit drugs in Oyo State.
“I am happy that our paths crossed in the course of discharging our duties. We can only wish you the very best in your new assignment at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he said.
Also speaking, the Area Comptroller, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command, Mr Babajide Jayeoba, said Abdullahi is a man who accomplished much in Oyo State.
He narrated his numerous encounters with the former Oyo NDLEA Commander, but particularly singled out the case of an innocent old man who was implicated and arrested for a drug case.
Without having any prior information about the old man, Comptroller Jayeoba said he felt that the man was wrongly implicated in the alleged drug deal and he approached Abdullahi to cause a further investigation into the case.
“Commander Abdullahi took up the matter and it was eventually discovered that this man was innocent of the accusation leveled against him.
“You can imagine what could have happened if Abdullahi had decided not to take up the matter. The old man would have been made to pay for a crime he did not commit.
“Our dear friend and brother, we are going to miss you as you take your leave from us in Oyo State. But I can tell you that you are not leaving us entirely.
“I worked in Abuja for more than 15 years. My family is still there. I do come around once in a while. Be assured that I will be checking on you whenever I come over to Abuja,” Jayeoba said.
Also speaking, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Michael Adaralewa, said he enjoyed his relationship with Abdullahi, both in official and personal capacities.
“Commander Saeed Abdullahi is a unique officer who is personable and amiable. We had a good working relationship working here in Oyo State.
“He is a good officer who made our jobs as security agencies in the state enjoyable. The interaction was effective as there was a symbiotic relationship between the NSCDC and the NDLEA.
“We are going to miss you, but we are happy that you are being transferred out of the state for promotion and for higher responsibilities. We can only wish you the very best in your new office,” he added.
The successor to Abdullahi as the NDLEA Commander in Oyo State, Mr Olayinka Joe-Fadile, was not left out as he said he was happy that his predecessor had a good working relationship with the other security agencies in the state.
“I am pleasantly happy with what I am seeing here this evening. I am particularly impressed that my predecessor had a good relationship with other security agencies in Oyo State.
“Indeed, Commander Saeed Abdullahi has laid a good foundation for me. Moving from their, I will strive to build on the foundation and further the cause of getting rid of criminal elements in the state.
“I hope to have an easy task working with the other security agencies in our efforts to make Oyo State and Nigeria in general more peaceful for its law-abiding people and citizens,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who is the facilitator of the get-together, said he was particularly happy about the good working relationship among the security agents in the state.
Owoseni, the Special Adviser (Security Matters) to the Oyo State Governor, said he was elated that the NDLEA Commander was leaving the state as a fulfilled man who had been elevated to a higher pedestal with the NDLEA hierarchy.
The retired but not tired Commissioner of Police urged security agents in the state to always find time to relax outside of their tight and strenuous working conditions.
By so doing, he said it would further promote their good health and also forged a good inter-personal relationship among them
“In spite of the very short notice, I am very happy that we are having this large gathering this evening in honour of our beloved brother who is leaving Oyo State in the line of duty.
“It is, indeed, a thing of honour that we can still have this large number of our friends within the security circle and even beyond, extending to the media.
“This greatly showed the type of person our departing NDLEA Commander, Oyo State Command is. It demonstrated the fact that he is well loved in the security circle in the state.
“I am particularly impressed with the synergy among the security agencies in Oyo State and I hope that this air of camaderie will continue.
“The level of unity and cooperation among the security agencies is noted and well acknowledged by people, even outside our areas of operations.
“Just earlier today [Thursday], my principal, the state governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde, openly expressed his gratitude to the security agencies for maintaining peace and security in the state.
“He also expressed his willingness to further support the pervading sense of peace and security by providing the necessary material and logistic support for the security agencies.
“We have able to achieve this much because of the working synergy, even as we are expecting to take the cordial relationship a notch higher,” he said.
Owoseni however urged his colleagues in the security circle to live a more healthy life by finding time out of their tight schedules to relax and unwind.
“Though our work schedules can be enormous, we should consciously seek to relax and unwind, knowing that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
“Having time to relax will take the tension caused by our tedious works off our minds. It will also help to promote good health and enhance the longevity of our existence.
“Beyond the health factor, relaxing and hanging out once in a while like this will further enhance socialisation. We are all human beings and we need each other in our course of earthily existence,” he added.
Responding, the former Oyo NDLEA Commander, Saeed Abdullahi, said he was happy and overwhelmed by the honour accorded him by the security agents in the state.
He said it had been wonderful working in the state, along with other security arms as far as security and the war against illicit drugs were concerned.
Commander Abdullahi particularly thanked the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, noting that his support for the state command of the NDLEA has been tremendous.
“I am very happy that I worked with willing and cooperative security chiefs in the state. I am leaving but, at the same time, I am not leaving. I will be in regular contact with them all.
“Working in Oyo State has been a very wonderful experience for me. It has been so great working with very wonderful people as far as security is concerned in Oyo State.
“I want to thank the Oyo State governor, for his assistance to the NDLEA, Oyo State Command and which greatly helped our operations in the state.
“His Excellency has assisted the NDLEA tremendously. In his first four years in office, he gave the anti-narcotics agency four branded vehicles.
“Without his assistance and cooperation, we would not have been able to achieved much.
“The governor has approved the fund for the construction of mini cell in the state. Though we are yet to access the money, but I am sure that the money will be released to fund the cell project
“Without the cell we would not be able to go out and make more arrests. As you know, these human rights organisations frowns at prison congestions, among other perceived abuses.
“However, and knowing His Excellency, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, I am very optimistic that it would not be a difficult task for my successor to access the fund from him,” he said.
