It has been a week since your unexpected and shocking departure, yet it still feels like a dream. How I wish it truly was! When the news broke last Sunday, there was panic, confusion, and denial. Many refused to believe it, while others turned to prayer, seeking divine intervention. Even now, I struggle to accept that you are gone. Arase, you were too good to leave this world so soon. Perhaps this is why people say good things don’t last—but why must it be so?
You met the Commission at its lowest point, with no clear direction. But you gave it your all. In just one year, you breathed life into the institution, restored its dignity, and rekindled hope. Your tenure was brief but profoundly impactful—arguably the most rewarding season in the Commission’s history. You fought many battles, stepped on toes, and willingly paid the price for the Commission’s survival and growth.
For me, your exit is a personal loss too heavy to bear. When you came on board, I was not part of your plans to manage the Commission’s image. You made that clear at first. Yet you still gave me the chance to prove myself. I will never forget my birthday in 2023, which was me in Benin, Edo State, during one of the Commission’s retreats. You sent me a message that read: “IK, thanks for keeping the flame aglow for the Commission. I was right, they were wrong about you.”
I cried when I received that message. It came from a boss who valued my contribution even after I learned you had been pressured to drop me because I was deemed “combative.” But in truth, I was only defending the mandate of the Commission. On the final day of that retreat, you spoke glowingly about me at the closing ceremony and openly admitted you had been under pressure to remove me. You then said that had you done so, you would have regretted it. Nothing has ever meant more to me, and I will cherish it forever.
You gave me the freedom to do my job without interference, and I, in turn, gave you my very best. You were cerebral, organized, and a towering leader who paid attention to details and knew the path to success. You were a pathfinder, a jolly good friend—never bossy, always approachable.
I have lost a godfather who appreciated hard work. Your words still ring in my ears: “Good delivery, go ahead and broadcast.” You often followed such commendations with personal calls or financial encouragement. I also remember the day I told you my wife, an Assistant Editor in Abuja, had contributed to one of my draft press releases. You not only praised her input but also requested to speak with her, thanking her for her support. That simple act reflected the humane, kind, and unassuming personality you carried with such grace. Yet, you never tolerated laxity. What had to be done had to be done promptly and properly.
Boss, I have truly lost someone of inestimable value. You treated me first as a human being and constantly motivated me to give my best. You loved the Commission deeply and did everything possible to steer it to greatness within just a year.
The death that took you was cruel, but God knows best. Indeed, it is not how long we live but how well. You have left indelible footprints on the sands of time. You were brave, present, and full of character and strength. Your passing is sobering, and I still struggle to accept it.
Good night, Boss. May God adorn your soul with eternal blessings. You will forever remain in my heart.
Ani is Head of Press and Public Relations at the Police Service Commission
