Accolades As ASP Asuquo Retires From Nigeria Police Force

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

In Nigeria Police Force, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Asuquo a.k.a Obongemem Utazi has caved a niche for himself within his 35 years of service. Within the Akwa Ibom State communities too, his name Utazi means terror that has unsettled many criminal elements in their enclave to either turn a new leaf or have their end to crime in sight.

Utazi belongs to Martin Luther King Jr. school of thought, who said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”

Meaning that in midst of controversies that trailed the Nigeria Police Force due to som bad eggs, are still officers in the command who have made the force and indeed Nigeria great. They serve with integrity and professionalism in line with the act the establishes the Nigeria Police Force. They are the ambassadors who have proved the slogan that “police is your friend’. ASP Godwin Asuquo a.k.a Obongemem Utazi is one of them.

Recruited into the Nigeria Police Force in 1991 as a Constable, Asuquo, who hails from Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State, rose through the ranks in the Force and retired as ASP after 35 years of service to the country.

Among his colleagues, retired ASP Asuquo is well respected and valued for his commitment and dedication to service. During the days of Special Anti-roberry Squad (SAS), a special criminals fighting unit in the police force, the name Utazi was popular because he was noted as a very rugged police officer.

At at a ceremony over the week in Uyo tagged: Retirement Celebration organized in his honour by his friends, guests poured accolades on ASP Asuquo that strongly portrayed him as an officer who never compromise with criminals no matter the odds. Someone who served the Nigeria Police Force and left a mark of integrity.

They described retired ASP Asuquo as an officer who gave a remarkable service to the police force and humanity in the fight against crime and criminality in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria at large.

Former head of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SAS) in the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Ikot Akpanabia, Supl. Femi Samuel described retired ASP Asuquo as a responsible and intelligent man whose record of service in the Nigeria Police Force is remarkable and valued.

“Asuquo is someone who has tried his best for Akwa Ibom State. Infact he was the engine room when I was the head of SAS. As he has retired, I wish him and his family well,” Supl Samuel attested.

Etteidung Emem Asikpo, the Village Head of Ekpri Nsukara Offot in Uyo, praised ASP Asuquo’s unwavering commitment to integrity and lawfulness, stressing that these attributes which aligned with his philosophy as a village endeared him to make Asuquo his best friend.

Etteidung Asikpo, who is a former Youth President of Ekpri Nsukara Offot, described retired ASP Asuquo as a gallant police officer who, within his service years, has contributed significantly in maintaining peace and order in Uyo and Akwa Ibom State in general.

“As a former Youth President, I have known so many policemen. Those who
compromised with cultists and other criminal elements, and those who have the capacity to work clean, never accepted bribe no matter how much the amount is from any body. They will stand their ground and ensure that justice is prevailed.

“I have known ASP Godwin Asuquo popularly known as Utazi for a long time to be a man of integrity who doesn’t compromise with criminals. If you have committed a crime, especially hideous one, and you are caught by Utazi, he won’t take any bribe to free you rather he would ensure that you are charged to court for justice to prevail.

“In the days of SAS, Utazi worked to sanitize Uyo. He was seen and feared by criminals in the state. Utazi worked in the police with integrity that stood him out among others. This attribute which combined commitment and integrity that mirowed my own, is the reason why I have chosen him as my best friend,” Etteidung Asikpo said.

“Today, I have chosen to celebrate him so that other police officers will see and work harder with integrity in service” the Traditional father added.

On his part, a former Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly member representing Onna State Constituency, Hon. Nse Essien thanked God for the life of retired ASP Godwin Asuquo who dedicated 35 years to serve the country, and wished him well in his retirement.

Hon Essien, who is currently the executive committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation commended retired ASP Asuquo for his passion in service to his country, Nigeria.

Responding, ASP Godwin Asuquo a.k.a Obongemem Utazi acknowledged God’s benevolence in his life, saying without which he would not have made 35 successful years of service in the police force.

Noting the role played by his wife, retired ASP Asuquo described her as someone whose fervent prayers and supports that God has used to preserve his life inspite of challenges he went through while in service.

“I give God the glory for making me to be alive, and assisting me in the last 35 years. As police officer, I have encountered a lot of challenges in the course my duty.

As police officers, armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminal elements don’t like us. We faced them on daily basis. When we go to robbery scenes, we escaped their bullets by the sheer grace of God. Within my 35 years in service many of my colleagues have also loss their life in active duty.

“For me, my wife has been the source of my success because by the nature of our work as police, we do not have time to pray even at home nor go to the church but my wife has been praying day and night for me to succeed, so I owe her gratitude but give honour to God” Obongemem Utazi acknowledged.

He however called on the government to equip the Nigeria Police Force well to ensure a better policing of the society and human.

The retirement celebration attracted many ASP Asuquo’s family members and friends including both retired and serving officers, who graced the event.

Among them included the village head of Afaha Eket, Etteidung Sunday Afaha, the President of 1991 Intake Eminient Partners, Supl. Ubokobong Etukudo, former State’s PPRO, CSP Cornelia Nwawe, retired Supl Sylvester Edet, his kinsmen in Urua Oko in Eket local government area, Akwa Ibom State led by Mr Friday Udo.