Concerns that state governors will utilize state police to repress their political rivals have been allayed by Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna State.
Governor Sani gave reporters at the State House a briefing following Thursday’s National Economic Council meeting in Abuja. He said that all 36 state governors who had submitted their viewpoints on the establishment of the state police had shown resounding support.
The development strengthens several arguments for the creation of a state police force. But in certain places, there have always been worries that state governors may abuse them.
However, in an interview with Politics Today on Friday, Governor Sani stated that the National Assembly might address the concern of governors abusing the state police.
According to Governor Sani, “the National Assembly and those who will draft the law must grant the state police all the authority to do so before governors will use them (state police) against their opponents.”
“The process of creating laws involves gathering people to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of various provisions.”
The Kaduna governor thinks that most Nigerian states would not have the insecurity that impedes economic operations today if the state police had been in place for three years.
He said that since the majority of people live in the villages and are more familiar with the area, state police would help with intelligence collection and sharing among the nation’s security personnel.
According to Governor Sani, there won’t be much of an issue with state governments’ ability to finance the state police because most governors now set aside sizable sums of money to help the federal police.
According to the governor, the National Economic Council cannot create state police on its own, which is why state governors’ stances on the matter are so crucial.
Getting the opinions of all the states before moving forward is crucial, he said, because state houses of assembly play a significant part in the process. “This will make the process more smooth,” he said.
