Makinde, Governor Of Oyo, Kicks Against Creation Of State Police

Seyi Makinde

Speaking on Monday, March 25, Makinde attacked the recent claims that 16 governors had submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC) urging the creation of state police.

Remember that last week, sixteen state governors sent recommendations to the NEC endorsing the creation of state police and suggesting constitutional amendments to make such an establishment possible.

State police, according to their supporters, would solve the country's security issues, but Makinde and 20 other governors are not persuaded.

 

He disapproved of the strategy, saying that the National Assembly, not the NEC or the National Security Advisor, should be the one to address the matter of state police.

However, in order for the NEC to take action on the findings, twenty governors from all 36 states of Nigeria still needed to transmit them.

Makinde responded, saying that the submission was a fruitless endeavor and that he had not submitted any memoranda on state policing.

 

“I did not submit, not because of arrogance but because I don't think the approach will quickly get us to where we want to go. You are asking the states to submit memoranda on how state police will work,” he stated.

“The National Assembly knows what to do. They have people who can quickly do this work. It is not the National Security Adviser or the National Economic Council that will deal with the issue of state police.

“It is a constitutional thing and should go to the National Assembly. Then, at the state level, we get our state Houses of Assembly to pass this law,” the governor added.

The governor of Oyo state stressed that, due to its constitutional character, the National Assembly should resolve the state police problem before it is taken up by state Houses of Assembly.