...'cont'd

IGBINEDION THE POLICEMAN

His years of service in the Nigeria Police Force 1959 - 1963 were eventful ones. He served in Agodi Ibadan and Oshogbo Police Commands at the Traffic Division, Investigation and Control Departments, where he exhibited some of those qualities consistent with him and which have been referred to earlier. During this period he made new friends both in and outside his official duties and met or re-opened contacts with some of the old ones. On hand to be of assistance to him during this period was Mr. Kizor the same Police Officer he had met in Benin City and who helped him into the Force. Mr. Kizor was the officer who posted Mr. Igbinedion to the Traffic Division.

It was also at this time he became acquainted with, and married a Scottish lady, Miss Irene Kiernan, the Principal of Queen's School, Ede, the mother of Peter Osawaru, Okunozee, and Ehi, who was to play a paramount role in moulding his life. His acquaintance with Miss Kiernan began at a duty post at Iwo which he maintained with his usual efficiency. Some of the old friends he interacted with during this period at Ibadan and Oshogbo, in and outside the

Police Force, included those he knew in his primary school days in Benin City. Some helped to keep the young policeman the company he was missing since he left Benin, while others played even a much closer role including Mr. Parry Osayande who was the Bestman at his wedding which took place at the Ibadan Baptist Chapel.

Interviews conducted among some of these people revealed a consistently good regard for Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion. They usually went into the history of the young man from his early life comparing his past with the present, and ending up with the same conclusion that the young man was destined to succeed.

Among those under whom Igbinedion worked as a Constable during this period at the Ibadan and Oshogbo Police Commands were the former Commissioner of Police, Joseph Adeola who was then a Senior Superintendent of Police and the late Daniel Abe who was an Assistant Superintendent of Police and the Divisional Police Officer at Oshogbo. Igbinedion also worked closely with the former Assistant Inspector General of Police, C.T. Akagbosu; the former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Parry Osayande, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Federal Intelligence and Investigations Bureau), Donald Ugbaja, who were all Cadet Inspectors at the time. Another close friend of his was the late James Babalola who was then a Senior Inspector.

In an interview, Donald Ugbaja spoke of Igbinedion as a Constable. According to him, "Igbinedion was a colourful young man with a lot of promise right from the very beginning. He was quite dutiful and resourceful and he possessed an enormous amount of drive... He used to ride my motor cycle and drive the DPO's car. That explains how close we were and how much trust we had in him."

The job of a Policeman soon became less and less interesting to the young man whose life outlook was far beyond what his rank in the Police force could offer. It was not surprising therefore that after four years in the Force, Igbinedion began to contemplate widening his horizon. He decided to quit.

Constable Igbinedion with colleagues at the Southern Police College, Ikeja

:: EARLY LIFE AT OKADA

:: LIFE AT SCHOOL

:: IGBINEDION THE MESSENGER

:: IGBINEDION THE POLICEMAN

CONCLUSION

This website has attempted to unfold Chief Osawaru Igbinedion from the cradle to manhood and from a humble beginning to a position of enermous affluence...READ ON