Southern Governors Push For State Police To Enhance Local Security

Southern governors unanimously support establishing state police to enhance local security control and effectiveness.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Southern governors have advocated for state police, asserting it will provide them with greater control over security decisions in their states.

They argue that local officers, who understand the terrain and language, are better positioned to combat crime effectively.

The governors convened under the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) in Abeokuta, appointing host Governor Dapo Abiodun as chairman and Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, as Vice Chairman.

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Attendees included Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Alex Otti (Abia), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), among others. Deputy Governors represented Imo, Delta, and Ondo states.

Notably absent was Rivers State Governor, Similayi Fubara, who was not represented.

Abiodun, who succeeded the late former Ondo governor Rotimi Akeredolu as chairman, highlighted the forum’s discussions on state police, regional security outfits, and other pressing issues such as infrastructure and agriculture. He emphasized the unanimous support among the 17 Southern governors for state police, stating:

“We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing and regional security outfits, which are working hand-in-glove with law enforcement agencies to provide intelligence and support.

Meaningful development cannot occur in an atmosphere of insecurity.”

Abiodun criticized the current system where state governors, as chief security officers, have limited control over police commissioners who are appointed by and answerable to the Inspector General of Police.

He noted the inefficiency of deploying officers from distant regions, who often lack local knowledge and face frequent transfers before acclimatizing to their assigned areas.

“We’re calling for community policing to address insecurity at the state and national levels. Under a state police arrangement, officers posted to their local wards would be more effective, understanding the community, language, and local dynamics, and knowing the criminals within their territory,” Abiodun said.

He also pointed out the federal police’s manpower shortage, underscoring the need for a localized police force to ensure governors have control over their states’ security.

“Yet, we fund the federal police operations, yet we are not getting the best from them. They don’t have enough personnel.

“State policing is not something new.

“We have several types of policing structure in other climes where we took our democracy from.”

Speaking on local government tenure, Abiodun said it was unconstitutional for anybody to extend the tenure of constitutionally elected public servants.

Referring to Rivers political quagmire where the House of Assembly extended the tenure of the local government chairmen, Abiodun said: “On local government administration, it is a constitutional issue that will be put to rest at a point in time.

“When your tenure has expired, it stands to reason that your tenure has expired.

“It is not up to the governor of that state or anybody else to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen.

“The collective position of the governors is that it would be a dangerous precedent and an abuse of the democratic ethos for the tenure of an elected local government chairman to expire and for anyone to imagine that their tenure can be extended by one day.

Southern Governors Push For State Police

“I think that puts that matter to rest. If that is not the case, that becomes a precedent, a reference point, and the thing is that somebody will ask for a tenure extension.

“Our democracy has evolved and we should not do anything to truncate the process.”

Abiodun, who said the forum also agreed on a modal transport master plan for the region, noted that the governors were delighted with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the award of the coastal road project.

“We discussed infrastructure extensively. To achieve regional integration, we need robust infrastructure to facilitate investment, promote economic activities, and enhance the movement of goods and services.

“We expressed unanimous appreciation to President Tinubu for the construction of the coastal road, which connects almost all southern states. This road is a critical enabler of economic development and will create numerous job opportunities.

“We also emphasized the need for the Federal Government to transfer some of the Trunk A roads to the states, provided the state government is prepared to maintain and manage these roads.