Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has joined voices calling for state police in Nigeria. The former President said the country is ripe for it.
The President there is the need for devolution of powers, responsibilities, and resources to allow for healthy competition among states.
He made the comments during an interview hosted by historian and columnist, Toyin Falola.
In the past, Obasanjo had rejected calls for state police, saying it was not right for the country. However, during the interview, Former President Obasanjo supported a statement credited to the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, that the country would know no peace until it instituted state police.
“Why can’t we now have state police? I have been to a country like Colombia, in the last five years, at least a dozen times. They did exactly what we did. They moved from local and state police to national police. But now, they have gone back to state police or provincial police. Why can’t we do that? If we do that, there will be no need for Amotekun,’’ he said.
“I was watching the governor of Taraba not too long ago. He was saying Nigeria will have no peace and security until we have state police. I believe that the time has come when we should talk of state police and allow it to be. The governor of Taraba said the national police have been overwhelmed, and I believe he is right.’’
“There will still be the need for federal police to look after federal territories and what I call major entry points – international airports and international seaports. The Federal Government can have mobile police and station them in strategic places, and only deployed when the state governor requires for it.”
He also queried the involvement of the Federal Government in secondary schools and agriculture, saying such responsibilities should be given to states.