Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reiterated their call for the establishment of state policing in response to the increasing insecurity in the country.
The demand was made during a visit to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, at the Rayfield Government House in Jos. Additionally, the governors announced a donation of N100 million to support the victims of the recent attacks in Plateau.
The governors emphasized the need to decentralize the current police system in order to create state police forces throughout Nigeria. They believe that this decentralization is crucial for effectively addressing the country’s alarming security challenges.
Among the PDP governors present at the meeting were Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Speaking after the visit, Bala Muhammed, the chairman of the PDP Governor’s forum and Governor of Bauchi State, acknowledged that Nigeria’s security agencies were making efforts, but expressed concern about the low ratio of citizens to police.
He attributed the formation of vigilante groups in various states to the absence of state police. Muhammed also noted that northern governors were following the example of their South-West counterparts by establishing their own security outfit called Amotekun.
Muhammad said, “We are just being very honest with ourselves. We are not just indicting unreasonably the Nigeria police or the security agencies as they are doing their best, but certainly the ratio of the citizens to the number of policemen is too low and the state governors know the peculiarities of their states, local governments, towns and villages.
“Nigerians want to sleep with their eyes closed and go about their normal duties peacefully, that is why we’re calling on the Federal Government to up its game by considering the establishment of state police in the country.
“There is no dissent between the governors and the national level but we need to get some decentralisation of the security apparatus so that we can enhance good governance by having good state police.
“We have seen what happened in Zamfara, Katsina, and other places. This is because Nigerians want to sleep with their two eyes closed and the PDP, as the party, has always ensured good governance.
“And so, we’re donating the sum of N100m in support of the victims of these unfortunate incidents, knowing that you are an accommodating governor who values inclusiveness with the understanding that Plateau State is home to all.”
