Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has expressed concerns about the proposed state police, stating that governors will misuse their power and turn it into a militia to rig elections and intimidate opponents.
Dogara cited the mismanagement of state-controlled electoral commissions and the potential for governors to use state police to suppress opposition.
He argued that empowering governors with state police would be akin to giving a hangman the freedom to hang, and that democracy cannot survive in an atmosphere of intimidation. Dogara also highlighted the challenges of funding state police, citing the difficulty some governors face in paying civil servants’ salaries.
His comments come as talks about state police gain momentum, with some governors and regional groups advocating for it as a solution to curb kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes. However, Dogara’s warnings suggest that the proposed state police may not be the solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.
