BOOK REVIEW: I Dared To Be Different

BY Prof. Aniekan Brown

BOOK REVIEW

• Title: I Dared to be Different: An Autobiography
• Author: Francis Osagie Erhabor
• Publisher: Verbatim Communications Limited
• Date: 2025
• ISBN: 979-8-3154-6684-0
• Foreword By: Solomon Ehigiator Arase, CFR, fdc (Former Inspector General of Police)
• Chapters: Seven
• Pages: 184 in all
• Cover Price: Not Stated

With publication basic preliminary pages, the author begins with a fair attempt at acknowledging those who had immensely contributed to his growth and development. I sympathize with him for the time-space-intent matrix that must have challenged him in the process. This was done in three pages.

This was followed by a very insightful foreword by an accomplished Cop, Solomon Ehigiator Arase, CFR, fdc, Former Inspector General of Police, who once served as a Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State. The author follows up with a six-paged Introduction where he glowingly captured that he dared to be different because he saw his job not as a mere profession, but as a divine calling to uphold justice,  be a voice to the voiceless, and ensured that no one, particularly the weak and vulnerable, was denied rights for whatever reason. The Introduction ends with some words on the marble: “True service is not in the position you hold but in the purpose you serve. When integrity leads and justice stands firm, society will flourish.” – what a call to ethical reorientation!

Chapter one documents the early beginnings on planet earth which were greeted with contrasts, defining moments, a critical event which birthed his resolve to be a Cop, loathing of extortion as a ritual, personal battle against injustice, some silver linings, etc. The chapter ends with six pointed questions upon an emphatic declaration that “NOT ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE CORRUPT!” Sincere answers to these questions would serve as a needful compass.

“Joining the Police Force” is the title of chapter two. The author declares that the decision to join the Force was that which “cost him everything.” He further points to his insights of the system, his ”could-have-been-better” relationship/experiences with the Police Academy in Kano, initial experiences as a Cop, special assignments, the authority structure that regimentally is one-sided (from top to bottom), and strong lessons in integrity. The chapter ends with key lessons learnt, questions for reflection, and a quote to remember: “Integrity is not about convenience – it is about doing the right thing, even when it costs you everything.” This was after stating on page 31 that: “…for most officers, policing was not about service, it was personal gain.

Chapter Three presents the author’s “Career Highlights.” Boldly, he begins with “A Journey Defined by Integrity and Leadership in Action.” Followed by “Challenges on the Journey,” an “Assault of Integrity,” “Leadership in Action,” recompense by way of “Recognition and Legacy.” Here also, the chapter ends with “Key Lessons,” “Questions,” and a “Quote” to remember: “True leadership is not measured by power, but by the courage to stand alone for what is right.”

“Challenges and Triumphs” is the heading of chapter four. The author here remembers October 1993, passing of tests, scaling of traps, and emphasizes the power of trust with the lesson from Ikot Ekwere, Itam, Itu L.G.A., and the challenges of conventional policing. A call to collaborative action between the police and the community – a case of Community Policing for positive change, the negatively sustained challenge of insufficient funding, the need for urgent reforms and a pointer to the “Fire that Refines” integrity all feature in chapter four. The chapter, like many others, end with “Key Lessons,” “Questions,” and a Quote to Remember which is a call for the preservation of a good and positive name, integrity which would trust, and a positive legacy.

Chapter Five is captioned: “Reflections.” Here, a journey of thirty-five years is encapsulated in thirty (30) pages, with emphasis on trust, collaboration with stakeholders, faith, leadership and service, and a call to action. It also ends with a quote.

The sixth chapter chronicles the perspectives of the wife, children, siblings, in-laws, and faith as a guiding force. This is aptly captioned: “Through Their Eye: Family and Faith.” This panoramic survey of a chapter ends with a quote.

The final chapter, seven, comes with the Conclusion and Recommendations. He concludes with reiterating the value of trust, integrity, collaboration, family and faith. This, I submit with the acronym: T.I.C.F.F.

Among others, the author recommends a merit-based system for promotions and career advancement, welfare and special supports for officers, increased funding, and advancement in technology development, and investment in community policing. The chapter begins to wind down with a quotation, a list of abbreviation, and pictures which eloquently tells the story.

TOWARDS ANOTHER EDITION

• The list of abbreviations should be more comprehensive and placed on the preliminary pages.
• Acknowledgement should be used on a plural note since the content is in plural form. The section should, therefore, be titled: Acknowledgements.
• As an academic, I posit that a chapter on technical operations, legal implications, cultural values, discretionary concerns, public relations concerns, the issues of concern within the criminal justice system, and the need to answer to academic concerns.

From the foregoing, I do not entertain any reservations in standing tall to proclaim that this book is a worthy venture. Secure in the knowledge that writing is the process of thought development and transference/sharing onto/with surfaces with relative permanence for others to interact with and share meaning, I remark that it is one thing to write and another to write what is publishable. DCP F. O. Erahbor has written what is publishable and has been published. Publishing this book has placed his effort in the realm of the mass media which is the dissemination of mass information to mass group(s) of people, who are scattered over mass expanses of land, often involving mass money, to make mass money. Erahbor has invested on this. It is time we shared and fed from his fountain.

May I cause us to note that with this book, the DCP Erahbor has done something that would outlive him. I grew up knowing that we could do three things that would outlive us, namely: procreating, planting a tree, or writing a book.

I, therefore, have the honour very respectfully to, congratulate the author for daring to add to our libraries, and unreservedly recommend this book to all who have anything to do with crime, security, and the criminal justice system, including students.

Prof. Aniekan Brown