The North Central All Progressives Congress Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly to reject the proposal for creating state police in Nigeria.
According to the Forum, state police would be a dangerous and counterproductive move that would lead to anarchy, impunity, and increased oppression of minority groups.
The Forum expressed concerns over the potential consequences of creating state police, citing the current misuse of federal police structures by governors to intimidate opponents and harass critics. They warned that giving governors control over state police would worsen the situation, leading to further subjugation of minority groups and opposition elements.
One of the major concerns raised by the Forum is the potential for abuse of power. Governors might use state police to intimidate opposition voices, harass critics, and suppress dissent. This could undermine Nigeria’s democratic system and lead to increased impunity across the country.
The Forum also pointed out that state police could be used to enforce religious dominance and marginalize minority groups, particularly in secular and religiously diverse states. According to the Forum, “state police would be a dangerous and counterproductive move that would lead to anarchy, impunity, and increased oppression of minority groups.”
The North Central APC Forum’s stance comes in response to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s call for the creation of state police to tackle insecurity in the state and across the country. However, the Forum rejected this proposal, arguing that it would not solve the country’s security challenges but instead create new problems.
The Forum believes that giving governors direct control over police forces could turn them into dictators, undermining Nigeria’s democratic system. They urged President Tinubu and the National Assembly to reject the proposal and focus on addressing the root causes of insecurity in the country.
