The chairman, Ila-Orangun Community Development Council in Osun State, an umbrella body for all indigenes of the town, Chief Oye Oke, on Friday said it would be hard to fill the vacuum the death of former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun has created in the community.
Balogun died on Thursday in Lagos, at 74.
Chief Oke, who spoke to The PUNCH, said besides bringing Police Training College to the town, the late Balogun gave several indigenes of Ila opportunities to join the Police Force.
Oke, also the Saloro of Ila, described the ex-IGP as a humble person who treated all religions in the town equally.
He said, “It is highly painful. We are all saddened, all Ila indigenes both at home and in the diaspora. It is a great loss to this community. Not for individuals alone, but for the entire community because he was a prominent indigene. He did well for us in this town. Most of those he took to the police are today in good offices.
“Until his death, he was assisting our youths to get jobs, especially into the officer’s cadre of the police. He was a very humble person. You hardly noticed whenever he comes to town. Some people of his calibre, whenever they arrive town, people must know. But Tafa was never like that.
“He took care of all religions in the town. He was a very humble person. He did well for us in Ila-Orangun. To have another man who will reach that stage and be useful for the community, only God knows when that opportunity will come to us again.”
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