A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police
(Operations), Philemon Leha, in this interview, shares
his experience as the Commissioner of Police in
Anambra State during the tenure of former Governor
Peter Obi.
How is life in retirement and how are you coping?
Ex-governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi
In principle, one is supposed to be resting, but I have
a few things occupying my time – further studies,
consultancies, etc but, in all, I am coping nicely and
life in retirement has been peaceful and refreshing.
As a former police officer, could you recall some of
your challenging assignments especially when you
served as CP of Anambra State?
There were many challenging tasks. In my time, I
was drafted to various difficult areas at different
times. I was posted to Anambra State in 2009 to help
restore sanity in the area. The state had witnessed
incessant armed robberies and kidnappings to the
extent that, in August of that year alone, robbers
ransacked four banks for four hours virtually
unchallenged, which was serious cause for worry for
the police in particular.
The then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya
Onovo, sent me on a rescue mission to Anambra to
restore peace. I was a Deputy Commissioner of Police
then but subsequently promoted Commissioner. It
was a tough assignment and I am happy that
relative peace returned to the state during my
tenure.
How did you achieve it?
It was not the sole achievement of the police. It was
with the active support and collaboration of the then
governor, Peter Obi.
What specific measures did you adopt to curb crime
in Anambra State?
The first thing I did was to study the situation, and
then attempt to unravel what exactly was happening
in the state – the real reasons for the robberies,
kidnappings and other violent acts. Next was to
examine the set-up of the Nigeria Police and
character of its officers in the state. One of my
findings was that some of the officers had been in
Anambra for about 10, 15, 20 years; some had been
in the state since they joined the police.
Philemon Leha
Having spent such a long time, many of them had
become ‘part-and-parcel’ of Anambra State and had
lost their sense of duty. I promptly requested their
transfers. In the same vein, I requested the IGP to
draft a reasonable number of mobile policemen to the
state, which he granted.
From my tour of the communities in the state, I
discovered there was lack of trust between the
people and the police, which endangered security,
law, and order. With the support of the Obi
administration, I restored public trust in the police
and made all my four official telephone numbers
available to them. I appealed to them to have
confidence in me. I also assured them that no
information they gave me would be leaked and that
they should hold me responsible for any breach of the
trust on the part of the police.
It was an agreement, signed and sealed. The results
were tremendous as we received vital information
that led to timely interventions in crime and
apprehension of criminals. As a matter of fact, I took
a chance to the shock of my men – to release a man
arrested for robbery, who declared he had repented
and would be feeding us information on any planned
robbery activity in the state.
Indeed, he became a valuable source of information
that enabled us to nip many robbery operations in the
bud. Even in retirement, I still receive calls from some
stakeholders on the security situation in the state,
which I pass on to the serving commissioner of
police.
What role did former governor Peter Obi play in your
successes in Anambra?
As I undertook my assignment in the state, I was
greatly encouraged by the commitment and
determined focus of Governor Obi. Security was on
his priority list and he always offered us logistics and
other support on a scale I had not witnessed
elsewhere.
People who do not understand him to tag him a
‘miser’ because he does not throw public funds
around like many other politicians but it is really his
philosophy they fail to appreciate. From my
observations as a trained policeman and interactions
with him, Peter Obi has Anambra State at heart. He
wanted to take the state to a greater height, which
he did. In the process, he endeavoured to raise a
team of men, women, and organizations with good
intentions for the state.
Indeed, he was highly instrumental in the success of
my assignment to combat crime and criminality in
Anambra State. Aside from his support for the
security agencies, he promoted collective
responsibility for security and initiated the demolition
of properties belonging to or used by kidnappers to
discourage their nefarious activities.
Could it be said that the foundation of a secure
Anambra State being celebrated by the current
government in the state was laid during the Obi
administration?
There is no denying that fact; that is exactly the
position. Despite the elaborate ground-work I did, my
assignment would not have been successful without
the commitment and concrete support of the Peter
Obi administration.
He also mobilized the citizenry to give us their co-
operation. He provided us with utility vehicles, money
to fuel them, allowances for the officers and built
strategic security structures. Obi bought vehicles for
the force. He really made a great difference, which the
state is enjoying to this day. His successors mostly
need to consolidate on what we achieved with the
support of Obi.
Mr. Peter Obi seemed to have made quite an
impression on you…
Peter Obi was also a policeman indeed and actively
played his role as the Chief Security Officer of the
state. I recall that he often telephoned the IGP, DIG,
and CP to ascertain the state of affairs on security
matters; and we gave him updates regularly, with
suggestions on how to resolve security challenges
that are always arising in our dynamic society.
He mobilized all the security and para-military outfits,
including the vigilante groups in the state. He was
really a dependable host to work with, which you do
not easily find elsewhere. He was and still is a
phenomenon and highly instrumental to the
stabilization of security in the South-East, particularly
Anambra State. Like him or hate him because of his
attitude to money, Peter Obi remains the best that
any state in Nigeria could possibly have. He is a very
responsible man.
Do you have any regrets working with the Nigeria
Police and in what areas would you suggest
improvements in the Force?
Personally, I have no regret working with the Nigeria
Police; having joined as ‘one star’ and retired as DIG
(Operations). Though I did ‘make money’ while in
service, I am contented with Almighty God has done
for me and that I did not compromise my integrity.
I started a building but have no money to complete
it. The house I live in was built for me by some good-
spirited people from Anambra State after my service
in the state. They include Governor Peter Obi, Cletus
Ibeto, Emeka Offor, Arthur Eze and Innoson
Chukwuma. God will reward them for what they did
for me. Such has been their generousity that I
wanted to name the building ‘Anambra House’.
For the Nigeria Police itself, it is, however, regrettable
that successive governments have not given the force
adequate support, especially in funding. There is also
the problem of poor welfare for Police personnel. It is
worse for those on special duties.
They are sent to far-off places and remote locations
without access to food, water or any form of
refreshment or money to purchase that. Many of
them then device means of sustaining themselves on
those missions, which is the much-talked-about
‘N20’ they are said to collect from motorists. No
serious Police Force will encourage such acts but the
government should do the right things..




source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/obi-laid-foundation-security-enjoy-anambra-retired-dig-leha/

Kingsley1000:
A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police
(Operations), Philemon Leha, in this interview, shares
his experience as the Commissioner of Police in
Anambra State during the tenure of former Governor
Peter Obi.
How is life in retirement and how are you coping?
Ex-governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi
In principle, one is supposed to be resting, but I have
a few things occupying my time – further studies,
consultancies, etc but, in all, I am coping nicely and
life in retirement has been peaceful and refreshing.
As a former police officer, could you recall some of
your challenging assignments especially when you
served as CP of Anambra State?
There were many challenging tasks. In my time, I
was drafted to various difficult areas at different
times. I was posted to Anambra State in 2009 to help
restore sanity in the area. The state had witnessed
incessant armed robberies and kidnappings to the
extent that, in August of that year alone, robbers
ransacked four banks for four hours virtually
unchallenged, which was serious cause for worry for
the police in particular.
The then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya
Onovo, sent me on a rescue mission to Anambra to
restore peace. I was a Deputy Commissioner of Police
then but subsequently promoted Commissioner. It
was a tough assignment and I am happy that
relative peace returned to the state during my
tenure.
How did you achieve it?
It was not the sole achievement of the police. It was
with the active support and collaboration of the then
governor, Peter Obi.
What specific measures did you adopt to curb crime
in Anambra State?
The first thing I did was to study the situation, and
then attempt to unravel what exactly was happening
in the state – the real reasons for the robberies,
kidnappings and other violent acts. Next was to
examine the set-up of the Nigeria Police and
character of its officers in the state. One of my
findings was that some of the officers had been in
Anambra for about 10, 15, 20 years; some had been
in the state since they joined the police.
Philemon Leha
Having spent such a long time, many of them had
become ‘part-and-parcel’ of Anambra State and had
lost their sense of duty. I promptly requested their
transfers. In the same vein, I requested the IGP to
draft a reasonable number of mobile policemen to the
state, which he granted.
From my tour of the communities in the state, I
discovered there was lack of trust between the
people and the police, which endangered security,
law, and order. With the support of the Obi
administration, I restored public trust in the police
and made all my four official telephone numbers
available to them. I appealed to them to have
confidence in me. I also assured them that no
information they gave me would be leaked and that
they should hold me responsible for any breach of the
trust on the part of the police.
It was an agreement, signed and sealed. The results
were tremendous as we received vital information
that led to timely interventions in crime and
apprehension of criminals. As a matter of fact, I took
a chance to the shock of my men – to release a man
arrested for robbery, who declared he had repented
and would be feeding us information on any planned
robbery activity in the state.
Indeed, he became a valuable source of information
that enabled us to nip many robbery operations in the
bud. Even in retirement, I still receive calls from some
stakeholders on the security situation in the state,
which I pass on to the serving commissioner of
police.
What role did former governor Peter Obi play in your
successes in Anambra?
As I undertook my assignment in the state, I was
greatly encouraged by the commitment and
determined focus of Governor Obi. Security was on
his priority list and he always offered us logistics and
other support on a scale I had not witnessed
elsewhere.
People who do not understand him to tag him a
‘miser’ because he does not throw public funds
around like many other politicians but it is really his
philosophy they fail to appreciate. From my
observations as a trained policeman and interactions
with him, Peter Obi has Anambra State at heart. He
wanted to take the state to a greater height, which
he did. In the process, he endeavoured to raise a
team of men, women, and organizations with good
intentions for the state.
Indeed, he was highly instrumental in the success of
my assignment to combat crime and criminality in
Anambra State. Aside from his support for the
security agencies, he promoted collective
responsibility for security and initiated the demolition
of properties belonging to or used by kidnappers to
discourage their nefarious activities.
Could it be said that the foundation of a secure
Anambra State being celebrated by the current
government in the state was laid during the Obi
administration?
There is no denying that fact; that is exactly the
position. Despite the elaborate ground-work I did, my
assignment would not have been successful without
the commitment and concrete support of the Peter
Obi administration.
He also mobilized the citizenry to give us their co-
operation. He provided us with utility vehicles, money
to fuel them, allowances for the officers and built
strategic security structures. Obi bought vehicles for
the force. He really made a great difference, which the
state is enjoying to this day. His successors mostly
need to consolidate on what we achieved with the
support of Obi.
Mr. Peter Obi seemed to have made quite an
impression on you…
Peter Obi was also a policeman indeed and actively
played his role as the Chief Security Officer of the
state. I recall that he often telephoned the IGP, DIG,
and CP to ascertain the state of affairs on security
matters; and we gave him updates regularly, with
suggestions on how to resolve security challenges
that are always arising in our dynamic society.
He mobilized all the security and para-military outfits,
including the vigilante groups in the state. He was
really a dependable host to work with, which you do
not easily find elsewhere. He was and still is a
phenomenon and highly instrumental to the
stabilization of security in the South-East, particularly
Anambra State. Like him or hate him because of his
attitude to money, Peter Obi remains the best that
any state in Nigeria could possibly have. He is a very
responsible man.
Do you have any regrets working with the Nigeria
Police and in what areas would you suggest
improvements in the Force?
Personally, I have no regret working with the Nigeria
Police; having joined as ‘one star’ and retired as DIG
(Operations). Though I did ‘make money’ while in
service, I am contented with Almighty God has done
for me and that I did not compromise my integrity.
I started a building but have no money to complete
it. The house I live in was built for me by some good-
spirited people from Anambra State after my service
in the state. They include Governor Peter Obi, Cletus
Ibeto, Emeka Offor, Arthur Eze and Innoson
Chukwuma. God will reward them for what they did
for me. Such has been their generousity that I
wanted to name the building ‘Anambra House’.
For the Nigeria Police itself, it is, however, regrettable
that successive governments have not given the force
adequate support, especially in funding. There is also
the problem of poor welfare for Police personnel. It is
worse for those on special duties.
They are sent to far-off places and remote locations
without access to food, water or any form of
refreshment or money to purchase that. Many of
them then device means of sustaining themselves on
those missions, which is the much-talked-about
‘N20’ they are said to collect from motorists. No
serious Police Force will encourage such acts but the
government should do the right things..




source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/obi-laid-foundation-security-enjoy-anambra-retired-dig-leha/

ok

who doesn't know that Obiano is the most overrated governor of all time, His likes is in APC, those who use propaganda as tooth brush