Olatunji Rilwan Disu- A Man of Destiny By Qasim Akinreti
One of the foremost Nigerian musicians, King Sunny Ade evergreen songs is called DESTINY. Sunny Ade said “Destiny… my destiny …can never be changed at all…..my destiny is from God!!!”
Destiny is defined as What will necessarily happen to any person or thing; (one’s) fate. The seemingly inevitable or necessary succession of events. A predetermined course of events. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; an irresistible power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual.
The Yorubas of southwest Nigeria refer to DESTINY as AYANMO. An adage was wrapped around it. “…Ayanmo o gboogun, Ori lelejo- meaning Destiny cannot be cured by any medicine, the head is the allocator “.
The Islamic scripture, Holy Quran captures the aforementioned definition of destiny.: “Say: Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! You bestow sovereignty on whomever you will and you withdraw from whomever you will. In your Hand is all that is good. No doubt you have power to do everything”. (Surah Al – Imran, 3:26).
Certainly, during the “Aqeeqah- naming ceremony” of young Rilwan, the father and mother, Alhaji and Alhaja Disu as devoted Muslims must have engaged the Ulamas to pray for long life and posterity for their son.
That arguably explains, the parental salute to Mama Disu when Tunji Disu was promoted to the rank of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Abuja. The social media was agog with the historical honour to a “sweet mother”.
The above analysis is for the man of the moment, the new Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, born on April 13th, 1966. Sequentially, by April 13th ,2026, the IGP would have retired from the Nigeria Police Force and enjoying quite life in his Lagos home.
But, it has been decreed by Almighty God that in month of March, 2026, Olatunji Rilwan Disu will reach the zenith of his career, one month before his official retirement.
With this appointment from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is certainly sure that destiny has bestowed more illustrious service years to IGP Tunji Rilwan Disu.
He rose through the ranks, understands the terrains, led policing battles in Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Rivers state, FCT in Nigeria and Darfur, Sudan on behalf of the African Union.
Specifically, as the Commander of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in Lagos. I met the new IGP in 2017, when I was the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Lagos State Council. Mr Tunji Wusu, publisher of Premier Newspaper, a member of the Security Committee of the Lagos Council of NUJ led my exco to the RRS office at Alausa, Lagos.
RRS Office was the immediate neighbour of the Lagos State Government Press Center, named after Late Bagulda Kalto.
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Our mission was to encourage mutual understanding between the Police and Media practitioners – Journalists, in Lagos State. Abdul Malik was the Public Relations Officer of the RRS on secondment from the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy.
The Commander RRS then, Mr Tunji Disu enlisted my support for a regular lecture on understanding the role of security agencies and the media on National Security. The venue, Parade Ground of the RRS, Ikeja Lagos. The commitment was sealed.
I became a regular guest lecturer to the RRS. Between 2017 and 2000, the Lagos State Police Command always consult the union if any Journalists had issues with police. During the NUJ Press Week in 2017, Mrs Mary Fatile, FRCN Investigative Reporter and Defence Correspondent nominated Mr Disu for an award. The NUJ Congress approved the nomination.
It is worthy of note that RRS has been given numerous awards as the most effective urban policing Units in West Africa. RRS was awarded the Most Outstanding Urban Crime Control Police Command in West and Central Africa in 2019.
Lagos was named the best security and most safety-conscious state in Africa by the Security Watch Africa (SWA) in Johannesburg in 2016. Best Anti-Crime Police Squad in West Africa, 2016
Other awards to Mr Disu’s professionalism are, One of the longest-serving and best Divisional Police Officers in Ondo State. Most Outstanding Police Operational Officer in West Africa, 2016.Most Outstanding Police Operational Officer in Africa, 2016.Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) Man of the Year 2018.Most Outstanding Anti-Crime Police Chief in the West and Central Africa category and Best Commissioner of Police of the Year at the 2024.
At the completion of the one of the lecture series, I organised a prayer for the RRS Commander in his office. Tunji Wusu, Abdul Malik, Ismail Adegbola, Owolabi, Sutton, Late Adekunle and Myself offered prayers from the Islamic and Christianity perspectives. I crowned the prayer with a wish that “One Day Mr Tunji Disu will become the IGP”. The expression on his face was like, can this come true going by years of service and the senior officers ahead of him.
I have always repeated the same prayer during my visits to Mr Tunji Disu at Intelligence Response Team office, Guzape and the Police headquarters in Abuja.
When he was confirmed as the new IGP, I pulled a call across to remind him of the acceptance of prayers and his destiny. His spiritual development, academic prowess and good human relations have prepared him for the task destiny has bestowed on him.
Significantly, Mr Tunji Disu has been known for exceptional discipline, professionalism and strong work ethic. These have shown in his major pronouncements after assuming office of the Nigeria Inspector General of Police.
I am extreme happy that he has strong team of Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG’s in the saddle to assist him walk his talk.
My continued prayers for his success in the task ahead are assured.
Qasim Akinreti, Ph. D, is Head Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria. Former Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council, 2017-2000.
