By Oki Samson
It is a great day of joy, celebration, and Thanksgiving for Nigeria’s first female Force Secretary, AIG Yetunde Longe as she pulled out from the Nigeria Police in grand style. AIG Yetunde Longe also clocked 60 reaching the full age of service to retire from the Police as another member of the famous Course 16 of 1990, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP reports.
With this development, Yetunde Longe joins her husband, AIG Kehinde Patrick Longe who retired meritoriously last years. The Longes are one of the few power couples in the Nigeria Police Force and they are very impactful in and outside of the Nigeria Police Force. In his eulogy to the first Force Secretary, the IGP Kayode Egbetokun who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG in charge of Southwest, DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi said: ‘AIG Yetunde Longe who is retiring after a meritorious service to our fatherland is an Amazon.
We celebrate your unwavering commitment, bravery, and dedication to protecting lives and properties in the nation. Your career has been a remarkable one marked with countless acts of heroism and compassion. You have faced a lot of challenges but you kept on soaring high as one of the most resilient police officers in the job and as a member of the management team before you bowed out as the first female secretary of the police force.’ DIG Alabi added: ‘
We are so proud of you. You have been a role model to so many police officers, particularly in combining policing and the home force. I want to say here categorically that the entire people of Ekiti that you’re married to are very proud of you. It is not easy for you to combine policing and home front together, you have never failed in any of those duties, I am particularly impressed with the way you have contributed to policy formulation and implementation as the member of the force management team before you’re exiting today.’
‘We will continue to draw from your inspiration and experience that you have shown in the course of your career. Let me particularly thank all course 290, course 216 of the Nigeria police force who are here present for your support not only for Yetunde but to the entire police force. We wish you God’s guidance, protection and a successful retirement life, in good health’, Alabi said.
NAOSNP reports, on his part, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Oniru of Iru land stated: ‘The celebrant of today, my darling cousin, aunty Yetunde as I fondly call her, happy birthday, today is a very memorable day for you being your birthday and today you’re also 60. I am very happy I saw a lot of your colleagues your seniors and juniors that are here to celebrate you.”A lot has been said, Yetunde Longe is someone I have known right from when I was a baby, we were raise together, she was one of the people that encourage me when I entered the police force, even when I left the police force, she was always there for me, whenever I needed her or member of the family or community she was always there.
She had a very remarkable career in Nigeria Police force, she was always grateful wherever she was posted as a Police officer, Yetunde never lobbied for any post I can say that and when this last posting as Force Secretary came, we congratulated her and she said “Kabiyesi ese o” because she is like that, so today Yetunde may almighty God continue to be with you “ gbogbo awon alele ako won a duro ti e, eleda baba, eleda iya won a duro ti e, oni rin leku lowo, oni rin larun lowo.’ ‘The Oba of Lagos, our mentor in the force, kabiyesi, Akiolu encourage a lot of us because he is still our mentor, kabiyesi Oba Riliwanu Osuolale Aremu Akiolu the first, we will continue to leverage on the opening that you give to us when we are still in the force, a lot of us that you influence both serving and retired we’ll always be grateful to you kabiyesi Akiolu and I’m sure AIG Longe will always be grateful to Kabiyesi and God Almighty’, concluded Oba Oniru who was a former cop.
Other former cops and dignitaries who were at the event include DIG Abiodun Alabi, DIG Bode Adeleke rtd, DIG David Folawiyo rtd, AIG Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu rtd, AIG Oyekola Shodipo rtd, AIG Wale Abass, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi rtd, AIG Margaret Ochalla, AIG Lanre Bankole rtd, AIG Kehinde Longe rtd, CP Adegoke Fayoade, CP Ishola Olarenwaju, CP Sonubi Ayodele, CP Abiodun Mustapha Alamutu, CP Waheed Ayilara, DCP Fatai Tijani, DCP Ejedawe Patrick, DCP Bayonle Kafar Sulaiman, ACP Paul Azuka Okafor, ACP Aisha Haruna Maliki, ACP Jide Agboola, ACP Ayodele Dorcas Fadairo (retd), Lagos White cap chiefs, Mrs. Osinbajo (Mother of immediate past Vice President), Barr. Michael Enyinnaya, Mr. Matthew Ibadin, among many others.
ACP Ayodele Dorcas Fadairo rtd remarked about the Longes, ‘When they got married I was there, first child I was there, second child I was there. I remember that day her husband, AIG Kehinde Longe rtd was going to Angola and suddenly Yetunde got pregnant, Yetunde said Aunty Ayo you caused this, and be ready to tender this pregnancy and I said God will do it and God did it and the child of that time is 32 years old now if I’m not mistaken and for one day have never settled any case for Yetunde Longe and her husband going to 34 years and I’ll tell other police women and civilians who are here today, go to Yetunde Longe for marriage counseling, and God will uphold her, be with her, God will not leave her.’
‘She has retired, she retired into blessing, into goodwill, into mercy of God, Favour of God and everything good, she deserve it and more than that in Jesus mighty name’, said the woman they fondly called Aunty Ayo.
AIG Oyekola Shodipo who retired over 7years ago said ‘Yetunde told me about 3 months ago when DIG’s wife was celebrating her 50th birthday she said Mr Shodipo you’re going to give the goodwill message at my retirement, I have to put something down.
Today as we gather to celebrate the remarkable career of a true hero who has left an incredible mark on our communities, I am indeed honored to give this goodwill message. She has exemplified the true meaning of dedication, courage and selflessness, she have served and protected our communities putting her own safety on the line to ensure peace and security of the people, I celebrate Yetunde today for the many lives she has touched.’
Mr. Disu added about Yetunde Longe, ‘She has been entrusted with very special positions, what else can we say other than to wish her the very best, the children are doing well, family doing well and she still has a lot of years, long healthy years ahead of her and we can only join her in praying that the long years ahead will be healthy and joyful.’
In her response, AIG Yetunde Longe (retd) thanked everyone who had come to celebrate with her. ‘I stand before you today with a mixed emotion, as I bid farewell to a chapter of life that was define for so many years. as I retire from the Nigeria police force, after reaching the mandatory age of 60 years, I am filled with sense of pride, accomplishment and fulfillment, it has been an incredible fulfill journey doted with challenges.’
‘Throughout my time in the force I have had the unique privilege of serving along with some of the finest men and women, who have dedicated their lives to upholding the law, protecting our communities and ensuring the safety and security of our dear nation. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have had to make a difference in the lives of others, to genuinely serve my great country, with honor and integrity, work towards a safer and just society for all Nigerians’, she concluded.
