By Damola Emmanuel
Since he left office as the 18th Inspector General of Police in June 2016, Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase, has been bagging one honour after another, locally and across the globe.
Just like the Holy Bible says of those who are diligent at the work, Arase, an authentic Officer and Gentleman, has not only been standing before Kings and Princes and not mere men, he has also had his bag of blessings full, pressed together and running over.
And today, October 11, 2022, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, a grateful nation will bestow one of its best honours on this super cop-turned-lawyer/international arbitrator. This morning, President Muhammadu Buhari will confer on Arase the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, CFR.
“It is the Lord’s doing,” an obviously elated Arase enthuses, waxing philosophical. “It is not by my power nor by my might but by the power of the living God who makes all things beautiful at their time. I give Him the glory. I’m also profoundly grateful to Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari, for this great honour.”
A law officer of no mean repute, also a well-sought security consultant and trainer, Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase, 66, was born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
He attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in political science. He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981.
A man constantly in search of knowledge, Arase has six university degrees in his kitty. These include a Bachelors in Law from the University of Benin, and a Masters in Law from the University of Lagos, crowning it with a PhD.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Arase had, while in the Police Force, served in various capacities and commands across the country. He was Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and as Assistant Inspector-General, AIG, and later as Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG, he served as the head of the topmost intelligence gathering arm of the Force, Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Arase served and excelled in Namibia during a United Nations Peace-keeping Operation.
Prior to his appointment as Inspector-General of Police by then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in April 2015, he had served as Principal Staff Officer, PSO, to three consecutive IGPs within a period of five years. The streak was made possible by his multidisciplinary rigour, sharp writing skills, adeptness at research, and ability to imagine and lay out sound thesis on the fundamentals of policing and other social issues.
As IGP, Arase brought several fundamental changes to the Nigeria Police Force making such a huge impact on policing and crime fighting that Jonathan’s successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, retained the Edo-born super cop as IGP till he retired on June 21, 2016.
After his retirement from Police service, Arase was appointed Chairman of a Task Force responsible for the implementation of a state Anti-Community Development Association Law in Edo State