By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia
THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, has been urged to throw his weight being the call for the creation of State Police as a measure to address the rising spate of insecurity across the country.
This call was made by a security and political affairs analyst, Prince David Adenekan, via a telephone call from Chicago, Illinois, on Monday.
Speaking with JKNewsMedia, Adenekan emphasized the need for State Police, arguing its potential to bolster the capacity of security agencies, particularly the police, in responding swiftly to security challenges without waiting for operational clearance from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Adenekan referred to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent endorsement of state police during an event organized by the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja on April 22, 2024; in which he dismissed opposition to state police as divisionary, emphasizing its importance to decentralizing operational powers from the Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police.
Expressing skepticism towards the motives behind opposition to calls for state police, Adenekan suggested the resistance might stem from concerns about losing centralized control and power within the police hierarchy.
He also called for a reevaluation of power dynamics within the law enforcement, advocating for greater autonomy for state governor in managing internal security to fulfill their constitutional duties of protecting life and property.
The security analyst highlighted the successful models of state-controlled police forces in other countries, arguing that such systems provide effective checks and balances while empowering local authorities to address security concerns more effectively.
Furthermore, Adenekan said he has been questioning the actual motives behind opposition to state police, including whether it might be part of a broader political strategy to maintain federal control over law enforcement.
He pointed to endorsements from former military Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, former President Goodluck E. Jonathan, and retired Archbishop John Olaiyekan, in support of state police as evidence of broad-based recognition of its necessity in addressing insecurity.
To fully buttress his point, Adenekan made reference to the national dialogue on state policing, citing discussions on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (alteration) Bill 2023 (Establishment of State Police), sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and others, which he stressed, reflects growing momentum towards decentralizing law enforcement to enhance public safety and reinforce security efforts across Nigeria.
