By Comrade James Onifade
The deployment of Commissioner of Police Samuel Etaifo Erale to oversee security operations ahead of the Osun State governorship election comes at a critical moment in the state’s democratic journey.
From available public records, CP Erale has built a professional career within the Nigeria Police Force, serving in various strategic positions, including at the Force Headquarters and as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.
His recent promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police reflects years of service and the confidence reposed in him by the police leadership. As Osun welcomes him, the people equally welcome the values his career has come to represent: professionalism, discipline, and service.
His arrival also presents an opportunity to rebuild public confidence in election security. The Nigeria Police Force plays a pivotal role in safeguarding democracy, particularly during elections when tensions are often heightened. Osun residents are not asking for special treatment for any political party or individual; they are asking for fairness.
The people of Osun have had difficult experiences in the past, where policing was marked by intimidation, partiality, and bias. The tenure of your predecessor, CP Gotan, left many citizens with the impression of a police command that tolerated thuggery and contributed to unrest. What he did to the good people of Osun will remain indelible. It may be forgiven, but it can never be forgotten in the history of Osun politics. Your deployment as successor to CP Gotan therefore comes with a clear expectation: to rewrite that story.
The people expect you to restore confidence in the Osun State Police Command, to uphold neutrality and professionalism, and to ensure peace and normalcy throughout the election period.
CP Erale must not give room for thuggery or harbor criminal tendencies in the state under any guise, including federal might. He must not yield to orders that compromise the will of the people. Instead, he should listen keenly to the outcry of Osun residents and do the right thing. This assignment concerns not just the election, but the legacy of a career officer who has risen through the ranks to lead a state command. Whatever he does now will be remembered forever, just as the people of Osun will never forget the maltreatment the immediate past CP Gotan unleashed on them. People may easily forgive, but they hardly forget whatever one does, whether good or bad.
The badge of the police must symbolize protection for all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations. Every voter should be able to exercise their constitutional right without intimidation, harassment, or fear.
Political actors must be held to the same standard of accountability, and law enforcement actions must remain guided solely by credible evidence and the rule of law.
CP Erale’s greatest legacy in Osun will not be measured by the number of officers deployed during the election but by his commitment to neutrality and justice. He must ensure that the police are neither perceived nor used as instruments of political advantage. Impartial policing strengthens democracy, while selective enforcement weakens public trust in institutions.
As he begins this important assignment, the people of Osun welcome him with goodwill and a simple expectation: that professionalism will remain his compass, neutrality his watchword, and justice his enduring legacy. Let neutrality, professionalism, and justice be your legacy. If you correct the wrongs of the past which happened under CP Gotan, and uphold these principles, your name will be written in gold and will never be forgotten. You will be remembered not merely as the Commissioner of Police deployed for an election, but as one who redefined and reshaped public trust in the Osun State Police Command and in the Nigeria Police Force, before, during, and after the governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
Signed: Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and
Judicial Reform
