March 29, (THEWILL) – Mr Ita Lazarus Udom, an indigene of Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom state, on Monday, bagged accelerated promotion from the rank of a Chief Superintendent of Police, to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, after 20 years of delay.
Udom confessed that he had served under both his course mates and junior officers, during the period of his travails.
He said this while speaking with newsmen shortly after he was decorated with the new rank, at the Godswill Akpabio’s hall of the command headquarters, Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The newly promoted Deputy Commissioner of Police, said, however, that he was grateful to God, the IGP and the state commissioner, for their role in his promotion.
According to him, “it was a terrible experience in my life because throughout this period of almost 20 years without promotion, I served my course mates and the junior ones. As a human being I was discouraged, because if I say I was not discouraged, I will be telling lies.
“However, I want to thank God almighty for his benevolence. I thank the IGP and the commissioner of Police.”
Udom, who noted that it was not his fault, but administrative bottleneck, promised to rededicate himself to the service of the police force and his fatherland.
“I feel elated today, because to whom much is given, much is expected; I will rededicate myself to serve this nation, be loyal to the IGP and to our country, Nigeria. I will do my best to carry out my primary responsibility, which is to fight crime”, he said.
The state commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, while thanking God for Udom’s promotion, said it is going to spur others, who are having similar situation in the force.
He said the command has instituted reward mechanism for those officers, who have distinguished themselves in service.
“This promotion is going to encourage and spur other officers with similar situations. My advice to them is to be patient and be more committed. As a command we will ensure that officers, who are due for promotion are promoted. Already, we have initiated different reward mechanism for hardworking officers in the state”, the commissioner stated.
A former commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Gabriel Achong, who joined in thanking God for the officer, said he personally went to the Police service commission, Abuja, to make a case for the promotion of the officer.
He called on officers to remain committed to their duties assuring that God will always reward them at the appropriate time.
Highpoint of the event was the decoration of the newly promoted officer with the new rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police.
