Assembly writes N’Assembly, Buhari, insists on state police
The Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has said there was a need to establish state police in the country.
Obasa stated this through a motion at the Tuesday plenary and was supported by the other law makers.
The speaker, who noted that the country should be seen as practicing true federalism with the characteristics of state police with the power and capacity to tackle crimes, urged the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to come up with a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the state police.
He said, “Tis House has always been at the forefront of calls for state police right from the 4th Assembly. This House is always right on target and always at the truth.
“We are not going to stop until we have a constitution that talks about federalism to have state police. We must latch on this opportunity. The community police initiated few months ago is not good enough, we want the state police that have the wherewithal to ensure that lives and property are safe and it is my sincere pleasure to call again on the President and the National Assembly on the need for state police’.
Following the endorsement of all the members, Obasa directed the acting Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to write the President and the National Assembly on the resolution of the House.
Meanwhile, the Ondo state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu on Tuesday said Nigeria was ready for state police as part of resolutions to insecurity in the country.
The governor noted that the protection of lives and property of the people must take a major priority, adding that it was one of the reasons that he was elected to the office.
Akeredolu spoke in Akure, during the visit of some All progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers, South-West caucus in the House of Representatives.
The governor said part of the move to secure Ondo state and South-West in general, led to the creation of Amotekun Corps.
He said, “The most important thing that you have said is that we have to think about our people first, and in doing that, we have to make a declaration. We felt convinced that we cannot have a situation where a first class Oba is killed, a deputy registrar killed, a chief of staff’s wife is kidnapped. It’s one of the things that led us to create Amotekun.
“If we have the state police, we may not need Amotekun. It will be a great fight for our people.
We must stand together. I commend the Governor of Kano State who said cows should not be moved to the South again for grazing”.
The lawmakers commend Akeredolu for his fight against criminality in the South-West.
The representatives of the caucus, Mr. Femi Fakeye (Osun), Dolapo (Lagos), and Mayowa Akinfolarin (Ondo) insisted that the cultural differences of the various ethnicities in the country must be respected.
Fakeye, who led the delegation said they were in support of any legitimate step to flush out criminals in the South-West.
