Why We Are Bent On Having State Police – Governors

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF)’ Chairman has today declared the intention of some governors for the creation of state police in the country is not to undermine the existing Federal Police, the Nigeria Police Force.

Fayemi, who is also Ekiti State governor made this known when he was speaking at a security summit, tagged, “Stakeholders’ security summit: Focus on Western Nigeria” which held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The summit, which was organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, had all the six governors from the region, Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Fayemi (Ekiti) in attendance.

Others were security chiefs, traditional rulers, leaders of thought and prominent groups within the region among whom are a former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams, Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe and Olukare of Ikare-Akoko Oba Akadiri Momoh among others.

The list also included Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulraseed Adewale Akanbi, AIG in charge of Zone 11 which consists of Oyo, Osun and Ekiti, Mr. Leye Oyebade, Commissioners of Police in the six states, among others.

Fayemi said, “Our clamor for state police is not intended to abolish federal police. They go side by side anywhere in the world. Our call for state police is not to abolish the existing Nigeria Police force.

“In all the meetings, I have been attending is security. Even your Governors last week, we were in Abuja last week, when the National Economic Council was inaugurated, we have only one agenda, it is security.

“Our quest for state police is not tantamount to abolition of the federal police.

“We have deployed a drone system in order to ensure that criminal elements are tamed. Wherever they are, we will track them.

“We must tackle poverty in the region; we must tackle poverty in our midst. All hands must be on the deck to ensure that we stop the criminal elements in our midst.”