By Victor Olufemi
It is important not to give mendacious critics the undue publicity they crave because that is precisely how they thrive. Over time, we have seen individuals, not driven by principle or patriotism, but by personal gain, move from one office to another, blackmailing institutions for money and access.
DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi’s only “offense” was denying them the validation they constantly seek. He refused to turn the Nigeria Police Force into a stage for their self-promotion. That denial, more than anything else, explains the name-calling and criticism now directed at him.
At one point, one of these individuals went as far as begging Muyiwa to arrange a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police. But when the then FPRO saw through his intentions and declined, bitterness set in. Since then, their resentment has been loud, but empty.
If Nigerians have been observant, they would have noticed a trend since Muyiwa assumed office: certain little-known individuals suddenly began parading themselves as “activists,” loudly claiming that every positive police intervention was a result of the “noise” they made on social media. But the reality is clear today, any Nigerian with a phone can tweet about incidents of brutality or extortion, and the Police will promptly respond. That accessibility is the direct product of the open-door policy Muyiwa institutionalized.
And therein lies the problem for these critics. They thrived on gatekeeping. They wanted to be seen as the indispensable bridge between the people and the police. But Muyiwa dismantled that monopoly. By giving Nigerians unhindered access to the police, he stripped these so-called activists of the false importance they had built for themselves.
Their attacks, then, are not about accountability or justice. They are about self-aggrandizement. They loathe that Muyiwa did not indulge their vanity or allow them to dictate the narrative.
It is a sad reflection of our society when opportunism dresses itself as activism. Nigerians must learn to separate genuine voices of advocacy from those who merely seek to be noticed. The former advance progress; the latter exploit it.
DCP Muyiwa chose the harder path—one of integrity, service, and openness. And for that, history will be kinder to him than today’s self-styled critics.
