Adieu Dr Solomon Ehigiator Arase: The Benevolent Supercop! From…

“Here is a Solomon! When is another?” Paraphrasted by Julius Cesar of Shakespeare (act 3, scene 2).

The shocks are often not scarce, but some can really be rude. The disappearance of the former inspector general of the Nigerian police forces, dr. Solomon Arase, he came to me and many people with pain not susceptible to any known analgesic. Here, I pay tribute to a good charismatic, altruistic and par excellence with whom I had in common, the same quarter in Sabongidda-hour (Evbibe-hour), a Alma Mater and a mother tongue.

As I grew up in Sabongidda-hour, I knew of a bigger boy who was often in his maternal grandfather’s house who was two houses of distance from my grandfather where I grew up. Her cousin, Iria, was a childhood friend who was often called to free the dishes after every meal by her grandfather, Pa Samuel Odion Ifidon. The elderly, as tradition was, have to leave something about the dishes that children can eat. The sweetness of the pap of the corn (Akamu/Ogi) prepared for the PA Ifidon, was a strong reason for me often to visit in order to share the residue with Iria. Pa Ifidon, like Pa Giwa-Amu, Pa Imoukhuede and Pa James Ozolua (my grandfather’s nephew) were among the wealthy in the city. It is said that the rest of the day can often be foreseen by its morning time. So, despite the most average comfort, dr. Arase has been concentrated and showed uncommon confidence and determination to be successful in life. Beautiful, strong and with a high evaluation of approval among the young people of the city, it was a good combination of brain and muscular very similar to Alexander the Great of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonian. He was the goalkeeper of his Alma Mater, Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongidda-hour. Those who knew about the glorious days of relay relays in inter-Casa sports and local and regional football competitions would remember that the name of a goalkeeper, such as that of the markers, was known by everyone. Dr. Solomon Arase was popular.

He loved the people of his mother with passion as he made his father and was available to help others have success, following the processes due. Successful people are often judged by the number of people who have helped on the pegs of the scale of success. In this essay, and although never so rich as to be listed among the richest in Edo, not to mention Nigeria or Africa, he acted as a mentor and made the scale for the growth of many people. The Mercy Arase-Igbe Foundation offers annual scholarships to bright but hardships of the areas of the local government Owan East and West. A Solomon Arase Foundation similar offers scholarships to Edo South’s young people. Its annual medical sensitization will not be forgotten. After the withdrawal, he freely started the state and local governments of his experience and has often supported security initiatives with logistics. These are testaments of his benevolence. He gave many, without prejudice against the tribe and language, the necessary blows in the arm that helped them overcome their economic inertia of impudent induced by despair, despair and disillusionment, to become confident, competitive and conquered. Such generosity without footprints!

Dr. Arase was affable, humorous, intelligent, personalized, fascinatingly sociable, but humble and self-challation. He aligned himself with the warning of Chinua Achebe in “Things fall into pieces” that “those whose kernels have been broken by the benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble”. Its greatness was not in its physical dimensions but in the depth of its virtues and professional equipment. His excellent performance as IGP must be the reason why he was maintained by President Muhammadu Buhari despite the warmth and tension that accompanied the 2015 elections. I remember that before his retirement tied to age, he was particularly hosted and publicly appreciated by President Buhari. He was really a rare policeman.

It was fresh internally and externally, calm, but ebullient and radiated a magnetic flow of peace that touched everyone around him. These qualities must underline his big heart of forgiveness because I cannot remember any occasion in which he was offended to the point of profound animosity. In fact, he showed sagacity in repairing fences and building confidence wherever they were non -existent. It was often the lubricant that freed the friction between the bosses and their subordinates.

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I tried to deal with the fact that I can no longer see this reliable elder who listened to me, embraced, encouraged me, supported me and I could boast with. I know that many people share with me, this circumstance not enviable, but I remember the words of Nishan Panwar, the famous author, that “we are all stories in the end, remember by the adventures we had, the results we have made and the people we loved. So, make sure your story is good”. Dr. Salomone Arase, Ojeagase of Ora and Iuleha’s Utebise, was iconic.

The Bible affirms in Ecclesiaste 3: 1–2, “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under paradise: once to be born and once to die …”. The life of dr. Arase managed his compass as he was established by the Creator who certainly cannot question. While I greet goodbye to this remarkable gift of God, I console me in the memories that I shared with him, the lessons I learned from his life and the impact he had on life. It may be its good inheritance to continue inspiring people to fight by size, benevolence and humility. Finished with these words of an unknown author:

“Paradise called you today, leaving so many words to say. But now it’s too late, for your time it has arrived.
Words not said – I’m sure everyone has some.
Regrets and desires are probably also there
But they last forever are memories of you. “

I will surely miss dr. Solomon Arase. From the goal of my imperfect eyes, His was truly a life to the greatest glory of God (to Majorem Gloriam of). May his rest be in God’s paradise.

● Ray I. Ozolua, 1st global vice president of the Holy Trinity Grammar School Old Students Association and former Deputy Chancellor (academic) of Uniben.

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