Why FG must emulate Amotekun — Aiyedatiwa

LAGOS — THE governors of Ondo, Rivers and Jigawa states, yesterday, reiterated their commitment to forming state police, as part of key measures to tackle insecurity in their domain.

The three governors committed while speaking at a breakout section on state policing at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Annual General Conference in Lagos.

In his remarks at the section, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State expressed optimism that creating state police would address security challenges bedevilling the country.

He also stated that the state’s security outfit, which had successfully helped to check insecurity in all parts of Ondo, reflected that state policing remained the best option to tackle insecurity in the country.

He said: “I am proud to say that Amotekun has delivered. It has brought a measure of peace and security to our people, a peace that had long been elusive.

‘’This home-grown initiative has demonstrated that when we trust in our communities, when we empower them when we give them the responsibility and the resources to secure their lives and property, they can achieve remarkable results. ‘’The synergy between Amotekun and other security agencies has placed Ondo State as one of the most peaceful and secure states in Nigeria today.

“This is but a glimpse of what state policing can truly accomplish. Imagine a Nigeria where every state is empowered to tailor its security approaches to the unique needs of its people.

‘’A country where swift response times, targeted interventions and community-driven initiatives become the norm, rather than the exception. This is the future we must fight for – a future where the safety and well-being of our citizens are paramount, protected by the very foundations of our constitution.

“We must, however, acknowledge the concerns that have been raised in some quarters – issues of abuse, training, funding and political interference. But I firmly believe that with the right safeguards and governance structures in place, state policing can be the transformative solution we so desperately need.

“We must learn from the shining example of the Amotekun Corps and forge a path forward that enshrines accountability, transparency and unwavering commitment to the people.

He reiterated that while Amotekun may not be a cure to all the deep-seated issues that plague our nation, it is a good starting point, a bold experiment, and a step in the right direction.

“It provides an elixir to some inadequacies of our centralized policing structure – its slow response times, its lack of cultural sensitivity, and its inability to address the unique needs of our diverse communities,” he added.

Also speaking, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State reiterated his support for state policing, saying it was the best way to check rising insecurity in the country.

The governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Eborama, highlighted the inefficiency of the current Nigerian Police in tackling crime across Nigeria, especially in states facing frequent kidnappings and other violent crimes.

Fubara said: “Constitutionally, Nigeria is a federation. Can a central police, from top to bottom, effectively tackle crime in Nigeria? It cannot.”

Speaking on fears that state policing could be abused by governors, he said: “Is there any situation in Nigeria that is not abused? The fear of abuse of state police cannot be used to deny its establishment.”

On his part, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State threw his weight behind state police, adding that a federal Police would also be needed to operate on federal matters.

Namadi, who was represented by the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, Mr Bello Fanini, said: “A multi-layered police system that would allow state-level policing to complement the federal police is what we need as a country.

‘’The federal police are still needed. Why? Because of the dynamics of crime and the importance of synergy between state and federal forces.”

Also speaking at the section, former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice for Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN, challenged long-held myths surrounding the country’s centralized police system.

He stated that there was a real urgency for the adoption of state policing to tackle rising insecurity across the country, noting that Amotekun had proven that state policing could make a difference in tackling insecurity in the country.