Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, on Sunday, said the creation of a legal framework to guide the creation and development of state police would prevent state governments from hiding under vigilante groups to arm people unconstitutionally.
The Senate Majority leader made this call in an article titled “In Search of a New Police Model”, according to The Cable, a Nigerian News media.
In the article, Bamidele said the legal framework must set globally acceptable standards for the state police system which shall be binding on every state government to checkmate any opportunity for abuse by state Governors.
“Every state, already prepared for its operationalisation, can go ahead with it without further delay,” he said.
“The development of the legal framework will prevent sub-national governments from hiding under vigilante groups to arm people unconstitutionally.
“But we must comprehensively set out the legal framework for establishing state police so that all sub-national governments can follow laid-down principles and procedures in a bid to protect people’s lives and secure collective assets.”
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Orji Uzor Kale during a plenary meeting. Photo Credit: Facebook
“At least, the two-thirds of the state parliaments must approve the proposal before it can become effective,” the majority leader said.
“In essence, the legal framework must be actionable and definite, evident and transparent, to allay public concern about the state police.
“It must convincingly address thorny issues that can, in the future, encourage the arbitrary use of state police by governors.
“Providing a legal framework for the establishment of state police should not be confused with its actual implementation when eventually adopted. Each sub-national government is at liberty to set its own timeline for the operationalisation of state police within its jurisdiction.”
Although Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), has opposed the creation of State Police saying Nigeria is not “mature” for it, several notable Nigerian leaders like Former President Goodluck Jonathan, a former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar have embraced and advocated for the concept.
