Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, the Chairman of the Ondo State Rainbow Coalition, has described the death of the former spokesperson for Ondo State Police Command, Femi Joseph, as tragic and painful.
Joseph, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), died in an auto accident on the Ife-Ilesha Expressway on Monday.
Adesanya, in a condolence statement issued on behalf of the coalition on Thursday in Akure, said the deceased was a thorough professional, fine gentleman and worthy son of Ondo State.
He said the late police officer and a legal practioner, who hailed from Supare-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area, distinguished himself through professionalism, accessibility and commitment to effective police-community relations during his service in the Nigeria Police Force.
Adesanya noted that Joseph redefined police-civilian relations while serving as the image maker of the State Police Command and as Divisional Police Officer of Fanibi Division, Akure.
He said the deceased maintained cordial relationships with journalists, politicians, activists and members of the public, stressing that his humane approach helped to improve public perception of the police.
Adesanya added that Joseph remained committed to justice and community development after retiring meritoriously from the police force and returning to legal practice.
“This is one death too many. The news of the passing of our brother, our friend, and a thorough professional, Barrister Femi Joseph, former PPRO of Ondo State Command, is tragic and painful.
“Femi Joseph was not just a Police Officer. He was a fine gentleman, a consummate professional, a legal luminary, and a true son of Ondo State from Supare-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government.
“During his days as the image maker of Ondo State Police Command and as Divisional Police Officer, Fanibi Division, Akure, he redefined Police-Civil relations.
“He was accessible, humane, firm and very responsive. Journalists, politicians, activists and ordinary citizens could reach him. He made the police look human.
“After retiring meritoriously from the Nigeria Police Force, he returned to his first love-law practice – and continued to contribute to justice and community development.
“His death along the Ife-Ilesha Expressway in a road crash, as confirmed by his family, is a cruel reminder of the state of our roads and the fragility of life.
“The family has rightly appealed that people should disregard false reports of kidnapping and respect his memory. He died as a result of a road accident.
“On behalf of the leadership and entire members of the Ondo State Rainbow Coalition across the 18 Local Government Areas, I commiserate with his beloved wife, children, the entire Joseph family, the people of Supare Akoko Kingdom, the Ondo State Police Command, the Nigeria Bar Association, Ondo Branch, and all his friends and associates.
“Ondo State has lost a bridge builder. The Police community has lost a PR icon. We have lost a Rainbow man.
“May God grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” he stated.
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