•Anthony Sani
Former Secretary General, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani has kicked against establishment of state police as proposed by the federal government.
Sani, in a statement today noted that if the State police is eventually created, State governors will abuse the police and as well use them as attacking dogs against political opponents, especially during electioneering campaigns.
The federal had penultimate Thursday at the executive council meeting hinted that it may create state police to combat the nation’s growing level of insecurity, reports Saturday Sun.
The president and governors have agreed on working out the modalities for the setting up of the State police.
However, the ACF chieftain said State police cannot function effectively if they are not properly trained, fully equipped and well motivated the fight criminalities.
He further expressed the fear that if governors could manipulate federal police personnel to their advantage, that of state police would become an automatic and easy ride for them whenever the need arises.
“State police whose personnel are ill trained and not fully equipped as well as not well motivated cannot be the magic wand in securing the nation.
“There is also a problem of abuse by state governors reminiscent of how state electoral commissions have been abused to kill democracy at local government level.
“What about conflict between the federal and state police? What is more,in states which are diverse,state police personnel would take sides with their ethnic or religious groups during conflicts.
“Let President Bola Tinubu get enough number of well trained and sufficiently equipped police personnel who are well motivated to secure the nation”, Sani said.
