Ex-IGP Onovo urges retention of history in school curriculum

Former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo, has made a case for the retention of history in primary and secondary schools’ curricula to equip students with knowledge of past events, saying that but for the discipline and instruction he received from former Governor Martin Elechi in secondary school, he would have ended up a rascal.

Onovo stated this weekend in Echialike, Ikwo Local Government Council of Ebonyi State while delivering his goodwill message to the former governor on his 75th birthday and one year of leaving office. The ceremony began with a church service at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Abakaliki-Obubra Road, Echialike Ikwo.

The former IGP, who attended the ceremony with a dancing troupe from Enugu State, recalled how unruly he behaved, as he bragged at the fact that his father was a policeman, but noted that Elechi’s intolerance to indiscipline and truancy helped to make him a better student and person later in life.

He stated that as a classroom teacher, Elechi was dreaded for his honesty, time-consciousness and insistence on orderliness. While noting that humility and integrity were some of the virtues he imbibed from Elechi, Onovo said he was the only person to serve as Deputy Inspector General of Police for eight years, adding, those who think they were smart are smarting now from anti-graft agencies.

Earlier in his remarks, the celebrant explained that the thanksgiving ceremony was put together by his friends and family, “for us to appreciate God for guidance and protection during my years in public service, endearing family life among other divine favours”.

Elechi added: “We are celebrating the survival of childhood challenges in a hostile environment and successful education in spite of ‘ups and downs’ of life. I am stunned over the presence of Prof. Ukwu. I. Ukwu, who as my colleague in the first set of appointees in the East Central State Government in 1970, and is still alive.”
He said he was also celebrating “our triumph over organised treachery and iron-will determination to destroy the family”.