By Odita Sunday
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, has attributed his record of never demanding or accepting bribes to the moral values and discipline instilled in him by his late father, urging parents to prioritise the spiritual and ethical upbringing of their children.
Ojajuni made the remarks at the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation held at St. Martin Catholic Police Chaplaincy, Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
The ceremony, presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, also featured the blessing of the newly completed Grotto of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and the foundation laying of the Catholic Chaplains’ House.
Speaking on integrity in public service, the police commissioner said his father’s unwavering commitment to honesty shaped the principles that have guided him throughout his policing career.
“I have never, in my life, demanded or collected a bribe,” he declared, noting that his late father, a lay preacher, raised him to live according to Christian values and personal integrity.
To illustrate the lesson, Ojajuni recalled obtaining a loan from the Police Cooperative early in his career to assist with the renovation of his father’s house. He said his father refused to accept the money after learning it had been borrowed, insisting on proof that it was obtained legitimately before accepting it.
According to the commissioner, he later secured a certificate of indebtedness from the Police Cooperative to confirm the source of the funds, after which his father agreed to receive the money.
He said the incident left a lasting impression on him and reinforced his resolve never to engage in corrupt practices.
The commissioner urged parents to regard the moral and religious upbringing of their children as an investment in the nation’s future, stressing that sound values remain the foundation for responsible leadership and national development.
He told parents of the confirmands that their commitment to raising their children in the fear of God would produce disciplined citizens capable of resisting crime and other social vices.
Reflecting on his childhood in Ondo State, Ojajuni recalled growing up in a Methodist family whose church stood opposite a Catholic parish, describing the cordial relationship between both denominations as an experience that strengthened his appreciation for Christian unity.
He also recounted what he described as a divine encounter shortly before his appointment as Ogun State Commissioner of Police, saying a gospel ministration during a church service deeply ministered to him, and within five days he received news of his appointment.
Ojajuni encouraged Christians to remain attentive to messages conveyed through sermons, worship and gospel music, saying divine guidance often comes through ordinary experiences.
He also commended Bishop Odetoyinbo and the Catholic clergy for their commitment to strengthening the faith of worshippers, while paying special tribute to the Police Chaplain, Rev. Fr. (CSP) Paul Omotosho, for his dedication to expanding places of worship within police formations.
The commissioner concluded by encouraging the newly confirmed faithful to remain steadfast in their Christian faith, assuring parents that the values they instil in their children today will yield lasting rewards for their families and the nation.
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