Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say it has become imperative for the federal government to accept the call for the creation of State Police to assist it in tackling the crippling security challenges confronting the country.
The governors, under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, expressed their support for State Police when the Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, led them to the New Government House in Little Rayfield, Jos in Plateau State on Thursday.
They were in Jos to condole with their colleague and governor of Plateau State over the unending attacks and killings of Plateau people by yet to be identified gunmen.
Governor Mohammed decried the rising security challenges across Nigeria and said it was time that State Police was allowed in order to complement the efforts of the conventional security agencies.
“We can see what is happening in Zamfara and the Amotekun in the South-West where citizens are sleeping with their eyes closed.
“So, we have been advocating for this. The ratio of police to the citizens is very low and the governors know the peculiarity of their states and how to tackle this challenge.
“There is need for the decentralisation of the security apparatus so that we can deliver good governance by having state police.
”Again, it will give us the opportunity to engage the structure of the security agencies, training our youths and making sure the rules of engagement are not abused and there is no extrajudicial killings.
”We will work in tandem with the established best global practice than being forced to be using vigilante and even at that we are working with the secuirty agencies, but we are still being accused of pursuing our interest.”
Governor Mohammed stressed that PDP will not relent standing for good governance and gave the assurance that residents of PDP-controlled States would continue to enjoy the dividend of democracy.
In his response, Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang thanked his colleagues for the solidarity visit, which will further encourage the people to be firm at all times.
He also thanked the PDP governors for contributing N100 Million as support to the survivors of the deadly attacks on residents of Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas on the eve of last Christmas.
”Insecurity has become a serious challenge for us in this country and this is largely due to the neglect of previous governments.
”No one has been jailed in the past for these killings, which is why it has lingered.
”As governor, I believe in the unity of our people. If we rebuild trust and treat criminality uniformly, we can overcome these challenges.”
PDP Governors in attendance were Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State and the Director General of the PDP Forum, Hon CID Maduabum, LL.M.
