Yesterday, the support for state police gained further momentum with two former Nigerian leaders – Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar — throwing their weight behind it.
They suggested that issues such as its integration into the national security architecture and operationalisation must be adequately addressed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who also supported the proposed policing model, gave reasons why it should start now.
However, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun differed with them. He said Nigeria was not ripe for state police.
Jonathan, Abubakar, Akpabio, Abbas, and Egbetokun spoke at a one-day dialogue on state policing in Abuja yesterday.
President Bola Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour at the event with the theme: “Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,” renewed his commitment to reforming the police.
It was organised by the House of Representatives ahead of the passage of the State Police Bill before it.
The Executive Bill was rejected by the Ninth National Assembly on the ground that governors could misuse state police if empowered to have control over its personnel.
However, the rising spate of insecurity made many of those opposed to the idea change their position and support it.
Former President Jonathan said state police should no longer be seen as an idea but a done deal.
Stating that there was no way any state could have adequate security without state police, he wondered why some people were wary of it even after some states had successfully experimented with it.
Former Head of state, Gen. Abubakar said as the possibility for state police brightens, efforts should also be geared towards giving traditional rulers constitutional roles in addressing security challenges.
But IGP Egbetokun, who was represented at the event by AIG Ben Okolo, said the country was not mature for state police.
He said: “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.
“State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security.
“There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction.’’
