No, Osinbajo, no!

The news item credited to the vice-president of Nigeria, Prof. Osinbajo to the effect that the federal government or the presidency is or are in support of the establishment of state police has come to me as a surprise and a big disappointment, being a very keen supporter of the Buhari Administration and the APC. […]

The news item credited to the vice-president of Nigeria, Prof. Osinbajo to the effect that the federal government or the presidency is or are in support of the establishment of state police has come to me as a surprise and a big disappointment, being a very keen supporter of the Buhari Administration and the APC. The Nigerian Police Force is part of the Nigerian state system which includes the judiciary, the courts, the military and Para-military organizations, and so on and so forth. The unity of the Nigerian state is mainly based on this ability of the state to impose its will to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country despite the opposition of those who want to dismantle it.

To make room for state police is as bad as the call for the establishment of Biafra, or even Shekau’s call for a Caliphate. It is also closely related to the issue of ‘resource control’. The evidence on ground suggests that a lot of mistakes have been made in the past, particularly the establishment of the State Independent Electoral Commissions, (SIECS) which ensure that only candidates endorsed by state governors get into office, and the joint state-local accounts, among others.

The same people fighting against Magu and the EFCC are the same fighting for state police. Why do we not have state armies? Why do we not give financial autonomy to the local government councils? Why has the legislature not investigated the president of the Senate for operating an account in a tax haven when the former prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif was impeached and banned from holding public office and members of his family also punished for similar reasons? Why did you suspend Senator Ndume and Hon. Jubril for exposing the corruption in the legislature, while ignoring Senator Alhassan Ado Doguwa’s argument that ‘paddling’ is a common practice? Why were some of your members so bent on procuring special cars for senators and members of the house? Why do you want to remove the Inspector-General of Police over his alleged incompetence over the killings in Benue State? Where were they when hundreds were butchered in what one army general described as ethnic cleansing on the Mambila Plateau in Taraba State? Who was the legislator who proposed that those who have embezzled public funds but are willing and able to relinquish at least some part be allowed to go scot free? There are many more questions to ask.

I urge the Buhari Administration and the leadership of the APC to categorically repudiate this insinuation that Federal Government is in favour of the establishment of state police. Those of us who are interested in the development of the progressive impetus initiated by the APC and Muhammadu Buhari would be reassured if this is done.

Saleh Omar, Salehomararab58 @gmail.com