Politicians Pushed Me To Contest Election, Collected All My Savings — Former IGP, Mike Okiro Laments

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro has narrated how some politicians pushed him into contesting for a senatorial position, “swindling” him out of all his savings in the process.

The former IGP shared his experience at the “Presidential aspirants’ media interactive platform” organised by New Nigeria Dream Initiative (NNDI).

Okiro said he was left with nothing after being tricked into contesting for the electoral position.

The 13th indigenous Inspector-General of Police who served between 2007 and 2009, slammed Nigerians who collect money from politicians when seeking elective positions, adding that they are the problems of the government and “we have more faults than the politicians”.

He said:

“Nigerians will talk about the leadership deficiency, but I say no, that is not enough! It takes two angles! If leaders have a deficiency, we have followers’ complacency! Because if leaders are behaving, we just laugh, wave at them, and say walk and go! And they will do the same thing again.

“But if we say no! Enough is enough, they change! You go, they give you money for votes so that you can vote for somebody whether the person can perform or not! They give you N5, 000 and you look for four years. That means the N5, 000 is your due for four years.

“I am talking about this thing because once in a time, the politicians have faults but we have more faults than the politicians. I have an experience, let me share the experience, I corrected myself and I said bye-bye to that thing.

“I contested election in Abuja here, Senate. I was on my own when they called me to come and contest. I said I have just retired, they said no, come and contest! I said Okay, I will discuss it with my wife. I told my wife and she said I am afraid.

“So, they would come to me and say we want to go here, bring money; we want to do this, bring money; we want to do that, bring money; I gave all my savings, nothing again to give. They came one day, I said I was not going to give more money because I have nothing to give you.”