Akande urges Tinubu to be bullish on State Police

Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Laolu Akande, has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate the same firmness and political will he showed in pushing through tax reform bills in tackling Nigeria’s deepening security challenges. Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday, Akande argued that while the President has proven he […]

Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Laolu Akande, has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate the same firmness and political will he showed in pushing through tax reform bills in tackling Nigeria’s deepening security challenges.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday, Akande argued that while the President has proven he can stand his ground against strong opposition on economic reforms, that same “bullish” attitude is noticeably lacking when it comes to security sector reforms, particularly the long-debated issue of state policing.

Akande recalled how President Tinubu handled resistance to his tax reform agenda, even in the face of unprecedented pushback from the National Economic Council (NEC), which is made up of state governors and other key officials.

“When the President wanted to put in the tax reforms, did you see how bullish he was? He was very bullish about it. The National Economic Council said please don’t do it, withdraw the bill, that was a powerful resistance,” Akande said.

Drawing from his personal experience while he served as spokesperson in the Vice President’s office from 2015 to 2023, Akande stressed how unusual such open opposition from NEC was.

“I sat through NEC meetings for eight years. There was never a time NEC came out to antagonise the president. Never. But on this occasion, the NEC said, ‘look, Mr President withdraw those bills,’” he added.

Despite the pressure, Akande noted that Tinubu remained resolute and refused to back down.

“But the guy was determined and he said no, those bills are going forward,” he said.

According to Akande, this level of determination is exactly what is missing in the fight against insecurity, which continues to claim lives across the country through banditry, terrorism, kidnappings, and communal violence.

He argued that Nigerians are yet to see a clear, forceful push from the President on key structural solutions, especially state police, which many analysts and stakeholders believe could help address local security threats more effectively.

“That is the kind of attitude that he needs to bring to security,” Akande said pointedly.

Questioning the administration’s commitment to decentralising policing, Akande asked:

“Where are we on state police? The president is not bullish about it. I haven’t seen that consistent determination that we are going to knock this thing off.”

Akande’s comments reflect growing public concern that while the Tinubu administration has moved swiftly and decisively on economic reforms, progress on security reforms has been slower and less convincing. He maintained that without the same political courage and urgency applied to economic policies, insecurity will continue to undermine national stability and development.

The former presidential aide urged the President to match words with action, insisting that security, like economic reform, requires tough decisions and the willingness to confront resistance head-on for the greater good of the country.