Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticized the recent submission of memoranda by 16 governors to the National Economic Council (NEC) in support of state police.
The clamor for state police has gained momentum amid escalating security challenges across Nigeria. However, Governor Makinde, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the governors’ approach.
Governor Makinde asserted that the matter of state police is a constitutional issue that should be addressed by the National Assembly, rather than the NEC or the National Security Adviser. He emphasized the need for legislative action at both the national and state levels to enact laws governing state police forces.
While acknowledging the long-standing demand for state police, Governor Makinde cautioned against expecting immediate results from the current approach. He stressed the importance of proper legislative procedures in addressing constitutional matters such as state policing.
The push for state police has been championed by various stakeholders, including governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and regional socio-political groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum. Several states have already established regional security outfits like Amotekun and Ebube Agu in response to the prevailing security challenges.
However, the effectiveness of these state-established security outfits has been hampered by the lack of federal government support. Governors continue to advocate for the authorization to equip these outfits with assault rifles to enhance their capacity to combat armed criminal elements effectively.
