By Adewole Kehinde
It is both disappointing and unbecoming for a supposed human rights activist, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, to descend into the gutter of name-calling by describing the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, as “the most useless and incompetent IGP in the history of the Nigerian Police Force.”
Such a sweeping, baseless, and disrespectful statement does not only fail the test of objectivity but also smacks of deliberate mischief.
Nigeria has had its share of challenges in policing over the decades, yet to brand the current IGP with such derogatory labels without evidence is not just reckless, it is an insult to the institution of the Police Force itself.
Leadership in security agencies is judged not by emotional outbursts but by policies, actions, and measurable impact.
Since assuming office, IGP Egbetokun has initiated reforms on welfare, operational strategies, and community engagement. These are measurable indicators that point to progress, not the caricature Adeyanju paints from his foreign perch.
Furthermore, Mr. Adeyanju should be reminded that freedom of speech is not an unrestricted license to malign personalities or peddle unsubstantiated claims.
The constitutional right to express oneself stops where it infringes upon another’s right to dignity and lawful reputation.
Running abroad to hurl insults at the IGP is no immunity against the law. Modern jurisprudence recognises that speech can be criminal when it crosses into defamation, incitement, or threats.
If Adeyanju truly has grievances against the police leadership, there are civilised and legal channels to address them.
Grandstanding on social media and hurling insults from outside the country may win him fleeting attention, but it will not shield him from accountability.
The law is not bound by borders when it comes to defamatory or inciting statements.
Constructive criticism is welcome in any democracy, but destructive falsehoods weaken the very institutions activists claim to defend.
IGP Egbetokun deserves to be engaged on the merits of his policies and leadership record, not on the basis of sensational insults.
The Nigerian Police Force is not perfect, but it is also not the playground for political theatrics. Adeyanju’s words were a misstep, a costly one that undermines his credibility more than the IGP’s.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole
