By Omoniyi Ibietan
I took the above quoted title from a book by the same title, authored by the 19th century novelist, Thomas Hardy. Very few novels are multi-thematic like Hardy’s sixth novel. Fatalistic, mystical, indifference, love, witchcraft, controversial…so controversial that it had to come first serialised in the media. It took sometime before publishers came forth to accept to publish it. Hardy spoke at once to several themes including the centrality of man (in my reckoning) as a creature of God and as a creator of gods. Importantly, Hardy’s novel revealed in an antiseptic fashion man’s sociostructural formations and how he’s conditioned largely by his environment.
Frank Mba, a lawyer and an alumnus of Univeristies of Lagos and Dundee in Scotland is a ‘native’ of the Nigeria Police Force. I have seen very few members of that institution that represent what a cop should be. Frank is an organic constituent of that sparsely populated group. I read on Uncle Richard Akinnola II Facebook page, from where I also ‘stole’ this photograph of Frank, that Frank Mba has returned as the Force Public Relations Officer. I confirmed that story from The Punch and Vanguard Newspapers online
Indeed, though uncle Richard spoke for me in his post, I am led to also re-story the news because my hope is rekindled about the possibility of redemption in the communication culture and perhaps the image of the Nigeria Police with the return of Mba. I know that every institution in our landscape requires redemption but the Police, given its role in the society is really in need of speedy redemption in view of its very bad outing in the last four years.
Like me, Mba is member of the African Public Relations Association. A great cop, Mba betrays the notoriety of the Force in physiognomy and conduct. Though a lawyer, he functions better as a brand marketer and communicator. He had functioned in his new role before which explained why I called him a returned native. Like the late Haz Iwendi, who had the honour of being FPRO thrice, Frank is coming the second time. But Frank represents the among the best of that civil and professional tradition which banner was raised earlier and promoted by people like Ezekiel Hart, Young Arabamen, Haz Iwendi, Frank Odita and Tunji Alapini.
Like Iwendi who graduated from the Police Academy in 1981 as the first runnerup best cadet ASP, Frank also graduated from the academy in 1993 as the best graduating cadet ASP. And like Hardy’s multidimensional portrayals in his interesting novel, Frank embodies varied but consistent dimensions of what is noble and enviable. I effortlessly recall the fun and camaraderie exhibited by him and Marilyn Ogar at the APRA conference in Addis Ababa some years ago and repeatedly at similar fora.
I therefore wish ACP Frank Mba a greater outing this time. Importantly, I pray he triumphs over all the mystical, indifferent and fatalistic principalities and witches of the Police Force, far above Thomas Hardy’s characters.
