State police has its potential pluses and negatives. At present, the Governor
of a state doesn't give instructions directly to the Commissioner of police;
the latter takes directive directly from the Inspector General of police who is
under the presidency via the Police Service commission. In a situation where
the Governor and Presidency have clash of political interests, he who pays the
piper dictates the tune, so Presidential powers prevail.
Now, creating state police makes the respective Governors the Chief Executives of the police under their jurisdiction. This implies more powers to these Governors. Do you imagine what an incumbent Governor re-contesting election would do? Your guess is as good as mine. Even with the current structure of the police, many Commissioners of police are "errand and security" boys to the state Governors...then with the state police, Commissioners would literally rig elections together with their boys for the incumbent.
The other issues would be those of funding, logistics, and then handling a multi-tribal geographical and sentimentally compromised entity like Nigeria. What would be attitudes of a state police to non-indigenes in his environment? How about the Nigerian phenomenal "my blood" which makes anyone without that "blood" an endangered specie even in the absence of danger? The average Nigerian would perhaps ride it over his neighbor because the state police officer who is also perhaps a sentimental bigot would take sides with his kinsman.
The truth is that Nigeria is complex, her problems are complex, the people are complex...these complexities have altogether enjoyed complex approaches and the outcome remains complex, no thanks to the kind of leaders we have both at the grassroots, state and national levels.
State police is a fine initiative. IBB has also given his 100% nod. However and expectedly the Governors' forum is fiercely divided over the issue. In my opinion, state police might have in its loins the potential solution to some of the lingering security challenges in the country, but it also carries on its shoulders a heap of disadvantages particularly due to the complex nature of our polity. The big question is this; is Nigeria fully ripe and ready for this move? Maybe you have an answer.
Dr. Bukola Williams
Now, creating state police makes the respective Governors the Chief Executives of the police under their jurisdiction. This implies more powers to these Governors. Do you imagine what an incumbent Governor re-contesting election would do? Your guess is as good as mine. Even with the current structure of the police, many Commissioners of police are "errand and security" boys to the state Governors...then with the state police, Commissioners would literally rig elections together with their boys for the incumbent.
The other issues would be those of funding, logistics, and then handling a multi-tribal geographical and sentimentally compromised entity like Nigeria. What would be attitudes of a state police to non-indigenes in his environment? How about the Nigerian phenomenal "my blood" which makes anyone without that "blood" an endangered specie even in the absence of danger? The average Nigerian would perhaps ride it over his neighbor because the state police officer who is also perhaps a sentimental bigot would take sides with his kinsman.
The truth is that Nigeria is complex, her problems are complex, the people are complex...these complexities have altogether enjoyed complex approaches and the outcome remains complex, no thanks to the kind of leaders we have both at the grassroots, state and national levels.
State police is a fine initiative. IBB has also given his 100% nod. However and expectedly the Governors' forum is fiercely divided over the issue. In my opinion, state police might have in its loins the potential solution to some of the lingering security challenges in the country, but it also carries on its shoulders a heap of disadvantages particularly due to the complex nature of our polity. The big question is this; is Nigeria fully ripe and ready for this move? Maybe you have an answer.
Dr. Bukola Williams
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