The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the legacy of retired IGP Adeolu Egbetokun will remain a benchmark for modern policing in Nigeria. He made the remark during a reception organised by the Yewa Peoples Development Council together with the Yewa Traditional Council on Saturday in Ilaro, an event that honoured the 22nd indigenous IGP and the first from Ogun State. The IGP was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police Olohundare Jimoh, who spoke on the theme "Celebrating A Life of Service, Integrity and Leadership : The Smartest and Mathematical IGP". Jimoh described Egbetokun as a "prominent, highly successful and an eminent son of Yewaland" and praised his 35 years of service, noting reductions in violent crime and other criminalities during his tenure.
Disu added, "His selflessness and compassionate leadership and the institutional strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force will forever be remembered by all the officers of the Nigeria Police Force." He also said, "His sustained commitment to ensuring national security across the country is etched in our memories forever" and that the retired IGP's contributions will continue to serve as a reference point for ongoing police development.
Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by state head of service Kehinde Onasanya, called the former IGP "a shining example of professionalism, integrity and patriotism" and highlighted his distinction as the first Ogun indigene to become IGP. Senator Solomon Adeola, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, commended Egbetokun for facilitating the establishment of a Police College at Erinja and for the secondment of Mopol Base 84 to Ilaro. Professor Rahamon Bello, chairman of the Yewa Peoples Development Council, thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Egbetokun to the top police post. Attendees also included Minister of State for Health Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako, traditional rulers from Yewaland and members of the Ogun State Executive Council.
The most striking element of the ceremony is the deliberate casting of IGP Egbetokun's record as a template for today's policing agenda, a narrative advanced by IGP Disu to reinforce current reform efforts. By foregrounding the retired chief's "selflessness" and "institutional strengthening," the police leadership seeks to link past successes with present challenges.
Egbetokun's 35‑year career, highlighted for cutting violent crime and establishing a Police College at Erinja, arrives against a backdrop of persistent security gaps across Nigeria. The Senate's Solomon Adeola underscored tangible projects such as the Mopol Base 84 secondment to Ilaro, suggesting that concrete infrastructure is being tied to the retired IGP's legacy.
For ordinary Nigerians, the emphasis on a historic figure may raise expectations of safer streets and more responsive law enforcement. Communities in Ogun State and beyond are likely to look for measurable improvements that echo the reductions in crime once attributed to Egbetokun's tenure.
The event fits a broader pattern of invoking revered former officials
