Akeredolu hails northern governors for supporting state police

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday commended the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) for supporting the creation of state police as a solution to the country’s security challenges.

The governors from the 19 Northern states and monarchs from the region on September 12 declared their support for the establishment of a state police in the country.

In a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja and read by the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, the gathering called for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution in order to give a legal backing for the establishment of state police.

The Northern leaders noted that the creation of state police was the only solution to kidnapping, killing, and unbridled destruction of property in the region.

Many Nigerians had in the past demanded the establishment as state police as the ultimate solution to the worsening insecurity in the country.

There were however concerns that politicians may use the state police to pursue a personal agenda.

READ ALSO: Buhari lacks power to create state police –Obono-Obla

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, the Ondo governor noted that the Northern leaders’ call for a constitutional amendment to facilitate the creation of state police came at a time the people no longer have strong confidence in the ability of the Federal Government to secure them.

He stressed that the state police was the only logical and pragmatic solution to the country’s security challenges.

The statement read: “All patriots must salute the courage of the 19 Northern Governors and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council for their stance at this crucial moment in the country.

“We, on our part at the Southern Governors’ Forum have continued to reiterate the fact of the incongruity inherent in an arrangement which purports to be federal, nominally, but whose observances stand at variance with the best practices espoused by climes considered advanced and progressing, amenable to nuances and adaptations which reflect and accommodate the yearnings for inclusion of the component units.

“We will continue to insist on the creation of state police as the only logical and pragmatic solution to the pervasive problem of insecurity in the land.

“In addition to this, we shall not fail to renew the call for the adoption of policies geared towards real devolution of powers to the federating units indeed. This is the surest path to peace and progress.”

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