Stop Deceiving Nigerians, Wasting Our Time On State Police – Makinde Fires FG

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has asked the Federal Government to stop delaying the creation of state police in Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the governor spoke during a public gathering captured in a viral video where he discussed insecurity and efforts made by states in the Southwest to improve security in their communities.

Makinde said security has remained one of the major areas of focus for his administration through the Omituntun agenda. He explained that before his government came into office, Oyo State did not have the Amotekun security outfit.

According to him, governors in the Southwest initially pushed for state police but could not achieve it. He said that challenge later led to the creation of the Amotekun Corps as an alternative way to support security efforts in the region.

Makinde stated that Amotekun was formed because the demand for state police did not succeed at the national level. He added that Nigerians should not continue to be kept waiting on the issue.

The governor also said states do not necessarily need to wait for the Federal Government or the Nigeria Police Force before setting up state police structures. He explained that state assemblies can create the legal backing needed for such security outfits if they are given the authority to do so.

“Some people will know insecurity was one of the major pillars of this administration when we established Omitutun phase one and phase two, and it will remain a major pillar. Before this government’s emergence, there was nothing like Amotekun in Oyo State. We wanted State Police. It was because we couldn’t get the State Police that we established Amotekun as a stopgap. They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time,” he said.

He said, “We know how we established Amotkeun. The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly is here. We passed a common law in the whole of the Southwest. The whole Houses of Assembly in all states in the Southwest passed the law, and that led to the creation of Amotekun. The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos State, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun.

“At this stage, they should stop deceiving us. If they want to establish State Police, don’t ask the Inspector General of Police to create it for us. Our state assembly will create it. Give them the authority and support, and within the shortest possible time, State Police will come to be.”