Image caption: Hashimu Argungu, new Police Service Commission (PSC) boss
‘We’re coursemates,’ Alaaje congratulates Hashimu on Police Service Commission appt – felicitates Oyo CP
Femi OGUNLANA
Alaaje of Aaje Ologo in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, HRH Reuben Adesina Amao Osunbiyi I fsi, JP, DSS dir rtd, has congratulated the new chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Hashimu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police.
This is as he expressed congratulations to the Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Adebola A. Hazmat, who was recently promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police.
Recall on Monday President Bola Tinubu through his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the appointment of Argungu in a statement, as replacement for erstwhile chairman, Solomon Arase.
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Ngelale also revealed that Tinubu approved the appointment of Onyemuche Nnamani as the Secretary and DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd) as member of the Commission. Other appointments were also made.
“The President expects absolute demonstration of integrity, diligence, and patriotic zeal in the discharge of these important functions for the overall wellbeing of the Nigeria Police and the nation,” the statement partly read.
Reacting to the appointment Oba Adesina Amao said he was confident DIG Argungu will initiate the “needed change” in the Nigeria Police having known him from their days as Cadet ASP Officers (Course 13/85) at the Police Staff College, Jos, between 1984 and 1985.
“I congratulate DIG Hashimu Argungu on his appointment as Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC). He is an amazing and competent officer.
“His integrity always shine through and l am confident he will bring the necessary reforms and needed change that will enhance effectiveness, efficiency and service delivery in the Police Force. He is my coursemate (Course 13/85). Two of us in the then NSO were selected to join them (Police cadets) at the Police Staff College, Jos for the basic course. They embraced us well and we all related together, they used to say ‘Amao, if even you are in NSO (now DSS), you are still part of us.’ Thanks to Ambassador Zakari, a Katsina indigene who assisted a Ogbomoso, Yoruba man without lobbying to benefit from this rare opportunity in the year 1985. Zakari was Director of NSO then, when Rafindadi, a Katsina indigene, was Director General, that was during the military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari. I rejoice with Argungu,” Alaaje said in a statement.
Dwelling on his personal relationship with Argungu, Alaaje, who was Lagos state DSS director, when President Tinubu was Lagos state governor, spoke glowingly of the man.
“He assisted my community, Aaje Ologo, several times in the past through his influence at the headquarters. He contributed to maintaining peace even in my village when I was in service.
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“On a more personal note, he assisted me financially when I was down. He is a friend indeed. When l was in Sokoto state on posting, and l was the Zonal Director North West Zone, he readily introduced me to his people to assist me to have a seamless job and to maintain peace via DSS strategy.
“Also, he loves the widows and orphans and the vulnerable. He has assisted us several times in running my widowhood and orphanage foundation. I can vouch for his reliability, credibility, honesty, approachability and humility and he is a man who has the fear of God. Job-wise, he knows the job. When l was DSS director, he related and synergized perfectly well with me to advance security architecture of the country and assisted me in achieving the desired goal of providing peaceful atmosphere for people to go about their duty.
“I love him and because of him, today, anywhere I see Sokoto people I render assistance as much as l can. Anytime l am buying something from a Sokoto man I pay him extra and tell them why am doing so. We are even celebrating him at the PCRC Owode, Ogbomosho, with the support of Area Commander, ACP Adigun Gbolagade.
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“Lesson: Be truthful, love the poor and take eyes from money, money, money syndrome. Let us realize that we came empty and we are going empty.Good name and integrity go a long way.
“I pray he will record outstanding successes in this gargantuan national assignment. I wish him well and urge him to bring to bear his admirable characters in the discharge of his duties and do more to leave a good legacy. What is said of him after he leaves office is better than what is said before and during. That is my epistle to him.”
In addition, Oba Amao, who exceptionally coordinated the visit of US President, Bill Clinton, to Nigeria in August 2000, when he was Assistant Director of Security (VIP) at the national headquarters, Abuja, sent greetings to all other course 13/85 officers, all retired now, while charging both retired and serving officers of all security agencies to cooperate and forge synergies among sister agencies so that “wholesome peace can be fostered and maintained in the country especially now.”
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He affirmed, “Hashimu belongs to the class of ‘though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand…’ (courtesy: New National Anthem). He is a detribalized, non-religious biased Nigerian.”
He concluded with an admonition to Nigerians, “Let’s imbibe the lyrics of the new National Anthem and Nigeria shall be great. Do not forget your destiny helpers even those that accommodated, fed and mentored you.”
In another development Alaaje has congratulated the Oyo state Commissioner for Police, Hazmat Adebola “on his merited promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police. It is recognition of diligence and excellence. I wish him well.”
The new PSC boss Argungu was born on July 10, 1957. Argungu commenced his journey in the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP in 1984, retiring in 2016 with the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). With over 32 years of experience in policing and security, Argungu boasts an impressive academic background, including a Masters of Laws (LL.M), Barrister at Laws (B.L), Bachelor of Law (LL.B), Bachelor of Arts Education (B.A.ED), Nigeria Certificate in Education (N.C.E), and Grade II Teachers’ Certificate.
His professional development includes participation in various courses such as Policy and Strategic Studies at NIPSS, Kuru Jos, and an International Banking Laundering Course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. Additionally, he completed a Public Corruption Certificate Course with the U.S.A. Department of Justice, a Higher Management Certificate Course at ASCON, Lagos, and an Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos.
Argungu held significant roles within the Nigeria Police Force, including Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Training and Development, Assistant Inspector-General of Police at Zone 5 Command Headquarters in Benin, and Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State, Ogun State, and Airport Command, Ikeja, Lagos. He also served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Legal and Prosecution Services FCID FHQ Abuja, and as Head of the Investigation Department (HOD) at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Abuja, on secondment.
Argungu’s expertise extends beyond his operational roles, as he is a regular presenter at various national and state summits, delivering lectures on Security, Investigation and Intelligence, Leadership, Professional Ethics, and Code of Conducts. Notable among these events include his participation as a lead Discussant at the Lagos-Kano Economic & Investment Summit 2018 and as a discussant at the 2nd Annual Retreat for the Sokoto State Government Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, and Directors at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.
With this rich and intimidating profile and vast experience in both public and private sectors, there is no doubt in his capacity to bring the much-needed change and reform to the Police Service Commission. With support from stakeholders including government officials, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations, DIG Hashimu Argungu is poised to lead the PSC with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to improving the effectiveness and accountability of the Nigerian Police Force.
