Drunken Police: Asking how unhappy Inspector became Ogogoro’s best friend

By Adetunji Ayobrown

The Zulu’s will say ‘Ukuphila kuhle’ – ‘life is good’, it is also a popular quote and saying among many Nigerians. As it is rather a must for every man to uzizwe kahle – feel good – about himself, his environment and even his situation. But non-attainment of this equilibrium turns most men to drinks, to mention the least, others ventured into unimaginable behaviours and hidden characters not too good for mentioning and they themselves are neither happy nor are their families proud of them…except in rare and exceptional cases.
Categorically speaking, our two main religions don’t support drinking, but the third allows it in moderation, if it is a must…for these, I am not an advocate of drinking. But why pondering, and who are we to even condemn anyone? God knows best.
But when the call is higher than the fall, the urge to meeting up daily life contributions demands more as we live each day-to-day of our existence, for this, I really don’t blame those who drink.
Man is composed of soul, body and spirit as each of these needs one form of food or the other in order of function, work effectively and properly too. Simply put, you sometimes need to step outside yourself, if you want to really access yourself…but, it is rather impossible to step outside yourself, except you are dead.
My teacher will always say, a good man does everything in his power to better his family’s position regardless of his own selfish desires, which makes most men ‘go hay wired’, trying all in their best to meet up at all and every cost, arousing emotional stress and the likes. And in order to get through what he is going through, many adaptive measures are invented.
Funny enough, most private and even government agencies often times worried less or even don’t bothered at all about their workforce’s emotional state of mind…what an irony.
As men differ, so do drinks, so they say. Some people takes ordinary and natural water, some drink tea, some grains pap, some wine. Others drink beer, whisky, and dry gin are not bad of an idea if it is added to our daily menu; their reasons? Please, don’t ask me, but I will say after all, the dead don’t drink.
Man must keep body and soul together, many beliefs, with different names for different types of dry gin, but it is popularly call around here ‘Ogogoro, Sapele water, push me make I push you’ among many other names invented, just according to what’s added to this ‘tueur assistant’ like a foreigner call it – ‘killer helper’.
People are always hungry for not just food but many other things, because they had to feed also on other men’s components, but in other to turn Inspector Kadima Useni’s failure hitching post to nothing but a guidepost…how did he get to that level and many other questions should click our minds.
Most police rank and files and even many officers’ day-to-day life is not encouraging for a crime fighter in any sane society. The monthly allowance like many will say cannot take good care of their family and wards not to mention living good life. No wonder N50 at Police Check Point can never be eradicated… I bet anyone to disagree with this assertion. Hmmm …give it to the force leadership in provision of little comforts for its men; it will rather make noise than take action. Abi, I lie? What has become of many of the Police Reforms Acts and the likes…you still see Nigerian Police men looking wretched and ready to collect their normal ‘Egunje’ irrespective of who’s oars is gored….after all no illegal ops, in as much as DPO is aware, some said.
Without application of its best cure, the Lagos state police boss order closure of all beer parlours around all police formations, an appropriate question should be what about those along every police men’s routes? …funny indeed. A case of misplacement of priority, many think.
Though the Nigerian Police Force had over the years claimed to have spent lots of money on all its men, rank and files, and when one erred, correction would be appropriate, but summary/total dismissal is subject to discussion. I am of the opinion that throwing away sharpened dagger is not the best option, because it may potent bigger danger for the society. Rather, how an unhappy wife became wine merchant’s best friend should be sought out by the force, if truly we want a better Nigeria Police Force.
We all know that a one-handed man without a family needs all helps he could get, how he became a drunken police inspector; what help (if any) could he get from the rest of us, his society?
Inspector Useni’s picture does not have any attributes of a happy man in any of his appearances. Couple of days ago, his video went viral – Drunk policeman dismissed. Drunken policeman, Inspector Kadima Useni of Lagos state police command was dismissed for getting drunk on duty. He is a police provost, Insp. Kadima Useni, attached to Police Mobile Force, Squadron 22 Base, Ikeja, was dismissed by the police for getting drunk on duty. The State Police Command’s Spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, said that the dismissed policeman was apprehended following a viral video, which showed the policeman drunk at Dopemu area of Lagos.
It is not enough to know that you know, but more importantly, show that you know. The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, directed the state Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, to fish out the erring policeman for appropriate disciplinary action.
Without going through or making critical analysis of what Inspector Useni was going through, indeed, Nigerians are of the opinion that the IGP did not know what his men are going through. It is a known secret though.
According to his sin’s sheet, “the policeman who was stupefied after guzzling large quantity of alcoholic beverage was located and apprehended today 07/11/2018 at Police Mobile Force Squadron 22 Base, Ikeja, where he served as the Command Provost”.
World over, drinking on duty warrant serious punishment(s) no doubt, but the force should be magnanimous to know that it should show love to its men that deserve it at least but needed it most.
‘E get as e be’ – a wise man who died at the backyard of a foolish man. It’s nothing but a case of policeman stealing goat, ‘na criminal code he no understand?…but only gods are wise. My teacher will always say when you are hunting rabbits in tiger country, it is a must to keep your eye peeled on tigers, but when you are hunting tigers you can choose to ignore the rabbits. A simple advice the drunken Inspector failed to abide with. Simplicita.
In a mop-up kind of exercise, the CP directed the officer in charge of the Command Provost Section to identify and shut all beer parlours within the police community in the state to prevent re-occurrence. He even warned against offering policemen alcoholic drinks while on duty by members of the public. But, many are of the opinion that failing to shut down the main reason causing his men to take to drinks during work hours…closing down beer parlours is not it and enough.
Imagine what became a former Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Officer, Michael Adikwu, in the last Offa Bank Robbery killed 22 people during operation alone most of whom are policemen and women. Adikwu, the masterminds of the operation led to the death of 33 people according to the Nigeria Police Force.
Adversity has its advantage; police reform is rather late as we can all see. What else do you expect from a hungry/angry man turned drunkard? …the inspector with the appointment number 176219 should not be left to wander away rather his reformation should be of high priority for the force. Dismissal is not the best option. Everyone needs and deserve a second chance.

Ayobrown, Senior System Analyst, National Pilot Newspaper, writes via aayobrown@gmail.com