The Southern States of Nigerian Governors have given reasons for their insistence on the establishment of state police in the country. The governors under the banner of Southern Governors Forum, SGF, made this revelation, yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
They stated that having state police will give them more control over security decisions in their States.
According to the Governors locals are better placed to fight crime because they understand the terrain and language.
The Governors used the opportunity of the meeting to appoint their host, Governor Dapo Abiodun as chairman. While the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, was named Vice Chairman.
The Governors that attended the meeting were Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Alex Otti (Abia). Others were Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Peter Mbah (Enugu).
Also in attendance were Governors of Bayelsa, Duoye Diri and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom.
Deputy Governors who represented their principals included Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo), Monday Onyeme (Delta) and Olayide Adelami (Ondo) represented Hope Uzodimma. Others represented by the Deputies were Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori and Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
However, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was absent and was not represented by anyone.
In appointing Governor Abiodun, the Chairman of the SGF, he now replaced former Ondo Governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
Speaking on the fallout from their meeting, Abiodun said the forum deliberated on state police. They also deliberated on the political upheaval in Rivers State, infrastructure and agriculture development in the country, among others.
The SGF Chairman stated that the 17 Southern Governors were united in their call for the establishment of state police.
He said: “We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing.
“We spoke with one voice in support of regional security outfits which almost all regions have set up.
“The outfits are working hand in glove with the law enforcement agencies and providing them with intelligence and support.
“We all know that we cannot have any meaningful development in the atmosphere of insecurity.
“We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing. And regional security outfits, working hand-in-glove with the security outfits.
“The Governors are called state chief security officers. But we know that the Commissioner of Police is appointed by the Inspector General of Police. And he is only answerable to the IGP.
“And when the Governor needs to call the attention of the CP on an urgent task in his State, the Governor will have to first clear with the IGP.
“What have we discovered? In most cases, a policeman from Borno, Maiduguri, posted to Lagos or Ogun States, for instance.
“Such an officer doesn’t understand the terrain. He doesn’t speak the language and he does not get the level of intelligence he needs.
“In that case of state police, the policeman understands the community and the locals, language. He understands the sentiments and, he knows the criminals within his territory.
“It is also common knowledge that the Federal police have a shortage of manpower.
“We, as Governors, are not in charge or control of our States, as far as security is concerned.
“Yet, we fund the Federal police operations, yet we are not getting the best from them. They don’t have enough personnel.
“State policing is not something new.
“We have several types of policing structure in other climes where we took our democracy from.”
Speaking on Local Government tenure, the Ogun State Governor said it was unconstitutional for anybody to extend the tenure of constitutionally elected public servants.
On the political crises rocking one of the Southern States, Rivers State, Abiodun said: “On Local Government administration, it is a constitutional issue. And that will be put to rest at a point in time.
“When your tenure has expired, it stands to reason that your tenure has expired.
“It is not up to the Governor of that State or anybody else to extend the tenure of the Local Government Chairmen.
According to him, “The collective position of the Governors is that it would be a dangerous precedent. And an abuse of the democratic ethos for the tenure of an elected Local Government Chairman to expire and for anyone to imagine that their tenure can be extended by one day.
“I think that puts that matter to rest. If that is not the case, that becomes a precedent, a reference point. And the thing is that somebody will ask for a tenure extension.
“Our democracy has evolved. And we should not do anything to truncate the process.”
The new SGF Chairman also stated that the Governor agreed on a modal transport master plan for the region. He noted that the Governors were delighted with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the award of the Coastal Road project.
He said, “We spoke about infrastructure. For us to be regionally integrated, we must have the infrastructure for investment facilitation. Which will help to promote and enhance movement of goods and services within the region.
“On that note, we were unanimously appreciating President Tinubu for the construction of the Coastal Road.
“This Road connects almost all Southern States. It is a key enabler of economic development like no other. It will also create a lot of job opportunities.
“We also spoke of the need for the Federal Government to transfer some of the Trunk A Roads to the States. This is if a State Government is prepared to take on such Roads.
“We also agreed to have a modal transport master plan that allows us to connect rail, water and road transportation. This is because we realized that transportation is key. It enables investment promotion, facilitation and the general wellbeing of our people.”
source: The Nation
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