There is virtue in being honesty and upright,it always pays not to compromising what is right. one might not get the reward for holding oneself to the highest level of propriety and integrity immediately, such gratifications are always delayed but at the end of the day such effort is recognised because people are watching and they appreciate good deed especially in an enclave where morality has gone to the dogs and true integrity and altriusm in public offices is a rarity.

it was a beautiful and memorable day for the divisional police officer of Itam, Akwa Ibom state police command, Francis Erhabor, as the inimitable officer received the 2019 Integrity Icon award for rejecting a N6 million bribe to compromise the security system while he was a pipeline commander in Edo.

The Integrity Icon summit & award is organised by Accountability Lab in partnership with Luminate, MacArthur and Ford Foundation “to name and fame honest government officials, thereby encouraging integrity in the public service”.

The officer was honoured alongside four other nominees at the event which was held in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The other nominees are Tani Ali Nimlan, an official of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Tina Lirmdu, a lecturer at the University of Jos, Plateau state; Kacheilom Roberts-Ndukwe, a teacher in a secondary school in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, and Christian Ahiauzu, head of the network infrastructure unit in ICTC at the University of Port Harcourt.

Erhabor, who has served the police for 30 years, said he turned down a N6 million weekly deal to compromise the system, despite his allowance of N37,500.

“I almost compromised if not for the mercies of the Lord. The story that is making frontline today that has brought me here was when I had just N800 in my pocket and I was a pipeline commander in Edo state, where I had worked for close to three to four years,”

“My actual allowance was just N37,500 from the government, which was not coming when due. And I had a few persons who dangled N1.5million to me and they were to be giving me N6million every week. And if I were to be there for 30 days, that is N24 million” He said

Erhabor said is refuasl of the bribe came with persecution and threat to his life but it was worth it because because such deed put him in good stead and placed him on the pedestal of reverence as he earned the respect and trust of the force and that of the public

“I eventually spent more than three years. But because of that decision I took before I entered the force because I had taken an oath that the day I compromise myself, Lord just embarrass me, show me on TV. Make me stick to the N37,500 that was not forthcoming.

“It didn’t go without persecution and agonism, sometimes my life was threatened, but the beautiful thing is that at the end of the day, I earned respect, I earned trust, got confidence not only from my colleagues but also from outside forces and it has been fun because the outcome has paid off.”

In a tweet, the organiser of the award congratulated the police officer, describing him as the “people’s choice”.

“Our People’s Choice Award winner @integrityiconng CSP Francis Osagie Erhabor, who saluted the incredible & inspiring roles played by his mom and his wife in his life and career. Congratulations,” it said.