The ‘Change begins with Me’ campaign of the Federal Government is yielding results in the police, one institution that is grossly perceived to be corrupt. But perception or not, law enforcement agents are already in the forefront of the campaign for a corrupt-free Nigeria.
In Imo State, the Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu launched the crusade at the Imo International Conference Centre.
The audience, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, students, youth organisations, government officials and other stakeholders, were thrilled when hundreds of policemen filed out with placards with such inscriptions as, ‘say no to corruption’, ‘bail is free’, ‘corruption kills, kill corruption’, ‘I am the change’, ‘change begins with me’ and ‘say no to bribery’, among others.
The scene evoked mixed feelings, but the message that it will no longer be business as usual in the police force was not lost on anyone. The determined look on their faces and the joy with which they flaunted their new identity showed that officers and men of the police force have been desirous to change the negative public perception about policemen.
Flagging off the campaign at the colourful event, Lakanu said it is aimed at correcting the attitudinal problems and negative habits in the police.
He noted that the campaign will also change the public’s perception of the men and officers of the force.
According to him, Nigerians are entitled to a better service delivery from the police and as such must have a better perception of their services.
He said, “During the launch, the President admonished every Nigerian to contribute to change by changing the way we conduct ourselves, engage our neighbours and generally how we relate with the society. Evidently therefore, the entire campaign is anchored on change of attitude and a total re-orientation of the way we live. As a result, in line with the directives of the Inspector General of Police for the Nigeria Police Force to embrace the campaign, the Police Force to embrace the campaign, the Imo State Police Command is launching the campaign”.
Speaking further,the Commissioner of police said, “No one can fault the assertion that there is a compelling need for a sweeping change of attitude within the Nigeria Police Force. This is more so as the perception of the institution by members of the public is unfortunately one that is not only corrupt but inefficient and brutal.
“As negative as such a perception may be and as indicting of the force as it may also portend, the fact is that it was formed from nothing. It is indeed a by-product of the way members of the public are treated by some policemen.
“Most Nigerians perceive the police force as corrupt, even though not every policeman is guilty of the vice. However, the fact a few bad eggs have decimated the image of the whole institution renders it objectionable to those they are supposed to be serving. Hence the need to key into the ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign becomes inevitable if the Force must change such negative impressions and perceptions.
“For instance, under my leadership, the state police command has been working assiduously to effect a change of attitude among members of the force. We have set up a monitoring unit called the X Squad to serve as an organ for Police oversight and accountability at the command.
“At the highest level of the command’s leadership, the attitudinal change has commenced in earnest and is expected to trickle down to the bottom. The leadership of the command has vowed to walk the talk as the era of saying one thing and doing an entirely different thing is long gone”.
The police boss at the occasion also launched what he called Operation ‘Nkpochapu’, which he said is designed to flush out all criminal elements in the state, especially during the yuletide.
Reacting to the development, one of the traditional rulers who graced the occasion, Eze Leo Nwokocha, said that the launching of the campaign by the Police, will rebuild the trust of the public in the police force.
He stressed that the traditional institution will also key in into the campaign, adding that true change can only come when every Nigerian and public institutions embrace change and seize to do things in the old manner.
The monarch commended the state police command for quickly adopting the change slogan, adding that, “the Imo CP has always insisted on doing things the right way and this has reflected in the conduct of policemen across the state and I am sure that with the launching of this campaign, many more officers and men in the command will turn a new leaf and this will be in the overall interest of the society”.
