Personality in Focus
Solomon Arase at 65: NAOSNP Hails Former IGP As Torchbearer
The National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), an association of distinguished online platform owners with integrity, and committed to the factual and well researched security news publication, has felicitated with a former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase, as he clocks 65.
A statement signed by the NAOSNP President, Mr Samson Oki, described Arase as a distinguished officer, who had been torchbearer in matters of intelligence gathering and purposeful policing, which earned him the National Police Medal in 2013.
Oki added that toeing the lines of President Muhammadu Buhari and other Nigerians, who have identified with the super cop, the Association hails the “versatile retired officer in celebrating another milestone, coloured with recognitions from achievements”.
Arase was born on June 21, 1956 and was appointed the 18th Inspector General of Police in April 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, and served till June 21, 2016.
Prior to becoming the IGP, Arase was head of the topmost intelligence gathering unit of the Nigerian police, the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau among other high profile positions where he showcased his experience in policing and service delivery.
Hailed from Owan West Local Government in Edo State, Arase attended the Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Benin where he obtained a degree in Political Science in 1980, and Law respectively. He joined Nigerian Police on December 1, 1981.
He also obtained a Masters degree from the University of Lagos.
Reputed as a man who gave his all to the service of his fatherland, Arase served in various capacities including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State as well as serving intelligence gathering unit as Assistant Inspector General. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy and had served in Namibia during the United Nations peacekeeping operation.
Former Presidential Spokesperson, Doyin Okupe has reportedly passed away.
TheNewsGuru reports that the senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and, recently, the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign died at 71, after a long struggle with cancer.
In October 2023, Okupe was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment.
However, it was learnt that his condition did not improve as expected.
Okupe had a history of prostate cancer, first diagnosed 16 years ago, and a later bout with sarcoma in his right shoulder.
Following his milestone achievements as Chairman of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the Chairman/CEO of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan has been officially announced as the Patron of the Police advocacy initiative in Lagos State, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The POCACOV is the Nigeria Police Force advocacy initiative to help young people avoid cultism and other vices. It uses advocacy, awareness, and sensitization to help young people avoid vices by conducting community outreaches to schools, inner cities, rural areas, and urban centres. It also helps to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who have been cut in the web of cultism, crimes, and social vices.
It would be recalled that Dr. Ayo Ogunsan took up the Chairmanship job about a year ago and was able to use his grand standing as the Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), prime supporter of security news beat association National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), and leadership of non-profit initiative, AKEM Foundation to champion his work and various impacting activities in the past one year. This is why POCACOV through its National Coordinator, ACP Olabisi Oluseyi Okuwobi on behalf of the Inspector General of Police announced his official elevation into the role of Patron of POCACOV in Lagos State.
The United Nations POLAC International Peace Advocate, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan expressed his gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the National Coordinator, ACP Okuwobi for the new role and promised to give direction to the new Chairman, Mr. Moses Oladimeji which will lead to improved performance of POCACOV in Lagos.
‘I will keep raiding our communities with love. We will give them food, shelter, etc. Police will do the Police work but I will do the policing of love’, Ogunsan affirmed.
This piece is contributed by Oki Samson
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Shamsedeen Ogunjimi as the new Accountant General of the Federation after a rigorous selection process.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga said his appointment, approved on Tuesday, takes effect from 7th March 2025, the same day the incumbent Oluwatoyin Madehin will retire.
Ogunjimi, 57, was first named as Madehin’s successor last December.
“A selection committee later chose him through a competitive, rigorous, and merit-based process involving Directors of Accounts in the Federal Civil Service. The committee conducted the process through three stages: a written assessment, an ICT proficiency test, and oral interviews.
“The selection process underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting transparency, excellence, and competence in key public service positions,” the statement read in part.
Ogunjimi graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.
He also obtained a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lagos.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
President Tinubu congratulated Ogunjimi on his appointment, and urged him to discharge his duties in the service with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to Nigeria’s service.
