Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reiterated his call for the establishment of state police as a crucial step towards addressing the escalating security crisis in Nigeria. Atiku emphasized the urgent need for local governments and states to have their police forces to effectively combat the multifaceted security challenges plaguing the nation.
Expressing his views on social media, Atiku underscored the imperative of expediting the processes required to establish state police, including necessary constitutional amendments. He highlighted the grim reality of Nigeria becoming a “killing field” due to the pervasive operations of bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers.
Atiku lamented the recent tragic incident in Madaka, Niger State, where scores of people were killed, including the village head, and several others abducted by suspected bandits. He extended his condolences to the affected families and urged swift action to address the insecurity crisis gripping the country.
In contrast, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State dismissed the submission of memoranda on state police by governors as futile. In a television interview, Makinde criticized the approach of submitting memoranda to the National Economic Council (NEC), labeling it a waste of time.
Makinde clarified that while he did not submit any memorandum himself, he remained steadfast in his stance on state police. He argued that the issue of state police is a constitutional matter that should be addressed by the National Assembly, rather than the NEC or the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The governor emphasized the need for the National Assembly to take decisive action on the establishment of state police, as they possess the requisite expertise to navigate constitutional amendments swiftly. Makinde stressed that state police legislation should first be deliberated at the federal level before being replicated in state houses of assembly.
In summary, Atiku Abubakar advocates for the urgent implementation of state police to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges, while Governor Seyi Makinde calls for a more direct approach through constitutional amendments at the National Assembly, dismissing the efficacy of submitting memoranda to the NEC.