Obasanjo: Policing is everyone’s job

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked Nigerians to see policing the country as a job for all rather than leaving it for men of the Nigerian Police Force alone. The former leader, who spoke at the maiden meeting of the Eminent People’s Forum and launching of “Change Begins With Me”, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta on Monday, said the police have been saddled with many responsibilities already, calling on the people to offer assistance individually and collectively.

He added that for Nigeria Police to perform effectively and make the “Change Begins With Me” campaign successful, Nigerians must ensure that necessary support is given for effective policing.


He however, urged the people not to hesitate to provide useful information to the police, the step which according to him, will go a long way in making the police to be proactive and combat crimes in a better manner.

In his remark, Ogun state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, who disclosed that EPF is the brain child of the Inspector General Ibrahim Idris noted “the orthodox concepts which regards security as the exclusive preserve of the police and security agencies has become obsolete and moribund”.






The forum, according to the CP, which will comprise critical stakeholders such as community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, elder statesmen, retired senior security officers, captains of industries as well as politicians, will proffer solutions to security challenges through mediation and social control.

Iliyasu, however, said the Nigeria Police under the leadership of the incumbent IGP, will subscribe into the “Change” mantra submitting “if this is properly imbibed by every member of the force will paint a new name for Nigeria Police.