As Jonathan, Akpabio, others back state police, IGP walks alone

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, appears to be a lone voice in kicking against the proposed state police as a measure to stem the spate of criminalities in Nigeria.

The call for state police has gained traction with the disturbing rise in insecurity manifesting via bloody attacks on communities, banditry and kidnapping across the country.

Already, a bill to establish state police passed a second reading in the House of Representatives on February 20 this year.

The IGP said rather than create state police, the challenges mitigating against effective policing in Nigeria should be addressed.

The IGP’s position is against the position of President Bola Tinubu on state policing.

The President in February this year met with state governors in Abuja during which they considered “the possibility of setting up state police.”

While Egbetokun is saying the country is yet not ripe for state policing, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, state governors and other eminent leaders of thought are convinced it is the right way to.

They called for necessary constitutional amendments and other actions to accelerate the process.

The IGP and others spoke on Monday during a national dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja, with the theme: ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’.

Egbetokun, represented by Ben Okolo, an assistant inspector-general of police, said Nigeria was not ready for a decentralised police force.

He said, “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria police force that Nigeria is yet to mature for the establishment of state-controlled police.”

The IGP listed some of the challenges as inadequate manpower, inadequate operational equipment such as vehicles, arms and ammunition, communication equipment, drones, aerial surveillance cameras, security surveillance helicopters, armoured vehicles, and inadequate training of personnel.

He added that state police would create a conflict of jurisdiction and open to abuse by state governors.

Ex-President Jonathan, on the other hand, stated that with the spate of kidnappings, the issue of state police is non-negotiable.

The former President, who chaired the occasion, said, “The issue today is not whether to establish state police but how it should be operated. There is no need to debate about state police. The issues of state police and Coast Guards were accepted at the 2014 National Conference.”

He also said, “For states to have their own police is not negotiable. There is no way we can continue this kidnapping that is going on in this country.”

Jonathan, however, added that for state police to be implemented, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be rejigged.

“The issue of voting, the polling booths of INEC, and the use of police during elections has to be reviewed by the National Assembly,” he said.

Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, also disagreed with the IGP on state police.

Gaidam said a more decentralised police force would help tackle rising insecurity in the country.

“It is clearly imperative to come together to discuss these critical issues and work towards finding sustainable solutions that will ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians,” he added.

Others who endorsed state police included former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.); Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

President Tinubu represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who declared the event open said the idea of state policing was not just a mere policy proposal but also a potential milestone in the evolution of the nation’s law enforcement framework.

This, he stressed, would create the opportunity to fashion law enforcement in a manner to closely address the various demands of communities across the country.

He said the administration was aware of the complex security issues confronting Nigeria, and continually developing and refining its strategies to address the challenges effectively.

“The commitment of the administration of President Tinubu to reform the police force and enhance security at both the national and state levels is unwavering,” he said.