Politicians will misuse state police- Alao Akala

A former governor of Oyo state and retired deputy commissioner of police, Adebayo Alao-Akala has kicked against the possible creation of state police.

“This country is not matured enough to have a state police,” Alao-Akala said on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday. “People clamouring for state police can go back to history and know that we are not developed to that level to have state police.”

“People clamoring for state police, like governors want to use it for their services,” he added.

Nigeria’s vice president earlier in the week reiterated his belief in state police, noting that a decentralised police system will improve security in the country.

Osinbajo has several times made a case for state police in the country, which has been one of the many demands of the those calling for the restructuring of the country.

“I have argued in favour of State Police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function, you simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja,” Osibanjo said in September.

The Senate on July 3 passed a resolution directing its Constitutional Review Committee to set up a mechanism to amend the constitution to allow for state police.

But Alao-Akal stated that the federal government should focus on funding and training the police and also recruit locally. He also urged the Senate to amend the Constitution so that the Police Service Commission, not the president, is responsible for the appointment of the inspector-general of police.

“The appointment of the IGP is faulty, the President should not be allowed to appoint but the police service commission who will then recommend to the Senate,” Alao-Akala said.