VIDEO: WE’LL BE IN TROUBLE IF GOVERNORS CONTROL STATE POLICE

Read Time:2 Minute, 34 Second

By ‘Sefiu Ajape

A Nigerian political scientist, academic, and activist, Professor Jubrin Ibrahim, has opposed calls to place the administration of the proposed state police under state governments.

He spoke while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme on Saturday.

Prof. Ibrahim argued that allowing state governors to control state police could undermine the expected benefits of the initiative, warning that it could lead to abuse of power.

According to him, governors could use the security outfit against political opponents rather than criminals.

“I think the core argument that has been made for State police is the constitutional argument, which is to say that Nigeria is a federation, and at different levels of authority, they have the right to establish security to cover their own areas of competence.

“Therefore, as it was in the First Republic, there is a need for each federating unit to have its state police.

“Now, if that is the argument, I don’t know why the Federal Police is being asked to provide the framework for the establishment of police, because it is the responsibility of the state governments to frame the duties and modes of operations of the state police.

“However, my biggest concern is that we know the way and level at which the state governments are being governed.

“We know the way state governments go to oppress the opposition, and make sure their powers are unchallenged.

“Within this political context, I have always argued that it is not wise to allow such people who want to eliminate political opponents to be in control of state police because they won’t use it against criminals but against their perceived opponents or enemies.

“The idea of state policing is worrisome, and I think if we go ahead to set them up, and they are under the control of state governance, we are in for trouble,” he said.

He also questioned the rationale behind the proposal and whether the state police would still fall under the control of the Nigeria Police Force.

“However, if the state police is under the control of the Police Force, then I don’t know what the argument is. Why proceed if you are not bringing a fundamental change to the system?”

His comments come after Tunji Disu, the inspector-general of police (IGP), inaugurated a seven-member steering committee on the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

The committee, led by Olu Ogunsakin, a professor of police studies, was inaugurated on Wednesday.

Disu said decentralising the police would enable state governments and local authorities to respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions.

President Bola Tinubu has on several occasions promised that his administration would establish state police as part of measures to address insecurity in the country.

Recently, Tinubu asked both chambers of the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for the establishment of state police.

The National Assembly has since begun the process of amending the constitution to accommodate the creation of the proposed security outfit.

See video below.