By Rayyanu Bala, Lafia
The stories of former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, and former IGP Mohammed Adamu Abubakar reveal a painful but familiar reality in Nigerian politics. Many respected public servants enter politics believing that goodwill, reputation, and experience will automatically translate into political success, only to discover that politics can be a very expensive and ruthless game.
Okiro’s account is especially striking because it reflects the experiences of many politicians who are lured into contests by people who present themselves as loyal supporters.
In an interview published by Daily Trust on May 27, 2022, titled “How I Was Swindled by Politicians After Retirement,” Okiro narrated how, after retiring from the police force, some politicians persuaded him to contest for the FCT senatorial seat. He explained that they kept demanding money for one activity after another — meetings, mobilization, logistics, consultations, and other political engagements — until his savings were exhausted. The moment he could no longer provide money, the enthusiasm and support disappeared, and he eventually lost the election.
Okiro’s confession is both sad and revealing.
Exactly four years after Okiro’s experience, the same pattern repeated itself with Mohammed Abubakar Adamu. After serving as Inspector-General of Police, he was persuaded by political actors in Nasarawa State to contest for governor under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Like Okiro, Abubakar Adamu believed that his national profile and years of service would give him a strong advantage. However, politics at the grassroots level is far more complicated than national recognition.
In the end, despite the huge resources spent on consultations, outreach programmes, town hall meetings, private meetings, and mobilization efforts, he still lost the APC primary election with just 39,675 votes. For many observers, the result was shocking considering his status as a former police chief. But in reality, it reflects how political structures work in Nigeria: influence is often exaggerated to attract funding from aspirants, while real loyalty may not exist.
The experiences of Okiro and Abubakar Adamu should serve as important lessons, not only for retired public officials but for anyone entering politics. Nigerian politics is filled with dubious individuals who surround aspirants with promises, praise, and endless assurances, as long as money continues to flow. They create the impression that victory is guaranteed while quietly benefiting from the ambitions of the aspirants.
Another lesson is that public service and politics are not the same thing. A successful police officer, military officer, technocrat, or civil servant may command national respect, but politics requires deep grassroots structures, trusted local alliances, and genuine political networks built over time. Without that foundation, even highly respected figures can become vulnerable to manipulation.
What makes the stories of Okiro and Adamu even more unfortunate is that both men served Nigeria at the highest level of policing. One would expect that after decades of public service, retirement would bring peace and dignity, not stories of political exploitation and financial loss. Their experiences expose how desperate and exploitative our political environment has become.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that ambition without careful political calculation can become costly. Before joining any political contest, aspirants must learn to separate genuine supporters from opportunists. Not everyone shouting, “We are with you,” truly believes in the project. In many cases, they simply believe in the money surrounding it.
For future aspirants, the experiences of Mike Okiro and Mohammed Adamu Abubakar should serve as a lesson. Politics should not be entered into based on flattery or pressure from political merchants. It requires strategy, independent assessment and trusted advisers.
In the end, the stories of both Okiro and Adamu remind us that in politics, loyalty is temporary, but the financial and emotional consequences of misplaced trust can last for years, if not forever.
Please, in the name of Allah, allow Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to rest. Do not lure him into another money-spinning political game again.
