The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reiterated calls for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
He equally asserted that it is a crucial step towards addressing the nation’s worsening security challenges.
Aiyedatiwa spoke at the 64th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
The plenary session, which was themed ‘Is State Police a Solution to National Insecurity?’ highlighted the growing concerns about Nigeria’s security situation.
The governor, who emphasised that state policing is necessary to combat the evolving threats that have overwhelmed the centralised policing model, added “It is with a heavy heart, yet resolute determination, that this matter of utmost importance is discussed today.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa also referred to Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which stipulates that “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” just as he noted the collective inadequacies in fulfilling this responsibility.
The Ondo governor paid glowing tributes to his predecessor, the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, (SAN), whom he described as “a true visionary whose unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our people continues to inspire us all.
“The limitations of the centralised policing system were highlighted by Aiyedatiwa, who pointed out its struggles to manage modern security threats, including kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.”
These challenges, he argued, necessitate local and community-based security solutions tailored to the unique socio-cultural and environmental conditions of different regions.
In his words: “A decentralised security system that considers our diverse socio-cultural terrains and environmental peculiarities in the management of crimes is required.”
The Western Nigeria Security Network, known as the Amotekun Corps, was praised by Aiyedatiwa as a beacon of hope.
Established under Akeredolu’s leadership, Amotekun was credited with restoring peace and security in Ondo State and setting an example of what state policing could achieve nationwide.
Aiyedatiwa called on Nigerians to envision a future where each state is empowered to tailor its security strategies to the specific needs of its population.
In supporting Aiyedatiwa who reiterated the calls for state police, the Oyo State former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN), challenged the long-held myths surrounding the country’s centralised police system.
Oyewo decried a time of great crisis within the Nigerian Federation, where insecurity threatened to overwhelm the region.
“It was as if we were to be run over by some army of occupation coming from the desert under the guise of climate change,” Oyewo remarked, criticising the failure of federal security institutions at the time,” the SAN stated.
