Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has criticized the submission of memoranda by governors calling for the establishment of state police to tackle the country’s security challenges.
Makinde described the report submitted by 16 governors to the National Economic Council (NEC) as a futile effort and expressed his disapproval of their stance on the matter.
The NEC confirmed receiving memoranda from these 16 governors, but Makinde pointed out that 20 other governors had yet to submit their reports.
Reacting, Makinde said, “I did not submit any memorandum on state police. But my position is very clear about state police. I see it, quite frankly, as a waste of our time.
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“I did not submit, not because of arrogance but because I don’t think the approach will quickly get us to where we want to go. You are asking the states to submit memoranda on how state police will work.”
Makinde said the issue of the state police can best be handled by the National Assembly and not the National Economic Council or the National Security Adviser.
He argued that the issue must pass through the parliament since it is a constitutional matter before being replicated at the state houses of assembly.
The governor said: “The National Assembly, they know what to do. They have people that can quickly do this work.
“It is not the National Security Adviser or the National Economic Council that will deal with the issue of state police.
“It is a constitutional thing and should go to the National Assembly. Then, at the state level, we get our state houses of assembly to pass this law.”
Calls for state police
The calls for state police have been an age-long issue in Nigeria. But the worsening state of security in the country has heightened such calls.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on February 12 restated their position on state policing, as the solution to the country’s worsening security situation.
Regional socio-political groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, have repeatedly called for state police as a solution to the nation’s increasing security challenges.
Some states in the South-West geopolitical zone have formed the Amotekun, while their counterparts in the South-East also created a security outfit Ebube Agu.
The Benue Guards has also been operational in Benue State in the North Central. In states like Katsina, Zamfara, and other bandit-prone states, sub-nationals have also come up with similar state-established outfits.
The outfits, however, are still seeking the backing of the Federal Government.
States continue to demand that Amotekun, Ebube Agu, and others be granted license to bear assault rifles like AK-47s to confront insurgents.
