Osifo Urges States to Deploy Local Security Agencies to Tackle Insecurity Ahead of State Police Setup

In the general elections of 2023, Mr. Stanley Osifo was a previous presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is currently in power. In this interview, he discusses state police, insecurity, and the role that states have in combating it. He expresses his opinion on why policies should be prioritized above the general elections in 2027. The politician also discusses, among other things, the necessity of emphasizing local government development above state establishment. Here are some extracts from Joy Anibogu:

What do you think about the way the government is dealing with the problem of banditry and the claim made by Malam Nasir El Rufai that the government is paying bandits?

Nigeria is not the only country where banditry is a problem. To address them, the government is taking non-kinetic actions. The administration is working and is not giving up, according to National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribadu. They are addressing the weather. Though it is extremely minor at the moment, everyone is in the same scenario as us, and the government is handling it.

Do you not believe that the government should address the state police issue specifically at this time?

The National Assembly is considering a measure on that topic, and I believe that the discussion is ongoing and that it will eventually receive the attention it deserves. In addition, state police are being developed in other states across the nation, including Amotekun in the South West. Policing actions have been brought up in several states, and the issue is being addressed in many localities. We should focus on how states may utilize their current outfits before granting state police approval for them.

In order to prevent a scenario where individuals would be running for a second term two years after taking office, it is proposed that public office holders be granted a single five-year term, as we have witnessed in 2027.

Even though it is perceived as a campaign, what is happening cannot be classified as such. I have stated repeatedly that politicking is not yet necessary and that instead of running for office right now, people should create good governance and services for the general public. In my opinion, they ought to make an effort to fulfill everyone’s expectations. People are making political statements and saying a lot of things in the media, and you can see that many parties are unstable and in conflict with one another. There is a lot of bickering and arguing among politicians from the same party. There has been no declaration of intention to run for a specific office. Most of the time, they refer to what they do as campaigns, but they haven’t stated that this is what they will do for the public. All they’re attempting to do is set up shop and make plans for the various offices in 2027. In my opinion, politicians should concentrate on governance, give the people the benefits of democracy, and take actions that will advance the nation. To a significant extent, they can be referred to as political campaigns.

In your opinion, is the APC guilty of splitting the opposition parties in order to establish a one-party state?

They are accusing the APC of attempting to establish a one-party state, you mentioned. You must provide proof to support your accusation; just because you make one does not mean it is true. We can’t focus on it if you can’t back up your accusation. It’s up to the person making the allegations to explain why they were made. Currently, we are dealing with internal conflicts between the different political groups. However, it relies on how each side resolves its problems.

As Nigerians are suffering, is it appropriate for the government to raise public servant pay, according to reports?

It is the Revenue Mobilization and Financial Allocation Commission (RMFAC) that is dealing with the problem of public office holders’ wages and emoluments. They are in charge of setting the pay for public servants and office holders. This is done through procedures; no one can simply wake up and fix public office holders’ wages. It is up to them to decide whether or not what they are doing is right. However, many people think that raising politicians’ wages is not advantageous for the nation. We must understand the specifics of the growth.

There are calls for the creation of new states because the southeast and others believe that Nigeria needs additional states. Do you agree with this? What should the current states do to enhance their current performance?

Even if you were to establish states right now, people would still come and demand their own. Adding more states is a good thing, but if you look at it, we started out as regions, then we had 12 states, 19 states, 21 states, 30 states, and now we have 36 states in the nation. As you can see, the state capital of a newly formed state undergoes growth, including the construction of roads, infrastructure, and other facilities. Although we may build new states in this way, I believe that we should prioritize the 774 local government councils nationwide and provide them with developmental funds instead. Since the development would have a greater influence, no one would push for additional states if all local governments were functioning effectively. Those who advocate for the creation of states are entitled to do so in order to maintain federal character and balance. In doing so, however, we ought to adhere to the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution. However, as I already stated, let us give local councils more importance so that the populace has a sense of governance.

You ran for president in 2019 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in primary elections. What can we anticipate from you in 2027?

As a practical individual, I have faith in Nigeria. Whatever the circumstances, I think we’ll overcome the obstacles. I am confident that we will prevail in any circumstance. It is important for Nigerians to have confidence in themselves and to receive proper care. Additionally, they ought to be curious about what is going on. I think that we should have strong institutions and adequately address poverty. Those in positions of power ought to act in the best interests of the nation. Governance is for the people, not only the elites, in my opinion, and they ought to support democratic ideals. I think we should be cautious when dealing with issues that harm people. That’s the reason I ran for president in 2019 and 2023. I think that by 2027, we ought to be prepared to take actions that will benefit the populace. Those present cannot be condemned. We should all do our part to ensure that the nation is wonderful. Regardless of the outcome, I would like to advise those running to cooperate with those in place for the advancement of the nation. I am confident that my experience will lead to even greater progress than what we already have if I am elected president.