A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, has said the proposed establishment of state police will make governors more accountable for security in their states, dismissing concerns that the system could be abused.
Sowunmi made the remarks on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday while reacting to the Senate’s passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the country.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the reform, which has long been canvassed as a solution to Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
“Mr President, ‘Eagle One’, well done, because the argument people made that ‘Oh, it would be abused’ is annoying,” he said.
According to the PDP chieftain, the creation of state police would eliminate a longstanding excuse often cited by governors for their inability to effectively tackle insecurity.
He argued that once the constitutional amendment takes effect, state chief executives would have greater responsibility for security outcomes within their jurisdictions.
“Now we have removed that excuse” of governors saying they are not in control of the police and other security apparatus,” Sowunmi said.
The Senate on Wednesday passed the state police bill after considering its general principles presented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. The proposed legislation subsequently scaled second reading, underwent clause-by-clause consideration and passed third reading.
The bill seeks to establish a state policing framework that will operate alongside the federal police system and empower governors to appoint commissioners of police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by their state Houses of Assembly.
