Killings: Senator Ekweremadu vows in US to ensure creation of state police

macfranc007 July 01, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Akinyemi Akinrujomu

- Ekweremadu says he will initiate the bill because he believes Nigeria's security system has to be changed

- The deputy senate president believes unless the system is changed, more lives would be lost to attacks

- He says the bill will be well supported particularly by governors whose states have suffered in the hands of the current poor security system

Concerned by the various killings across the country, Nigeria's deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu has announced plans to sponsor a legislative bill for the creation of state police to tackle the problem.

Ekweremadu made the announcement through a statement by his special adviser on media Uche Anichukwu on Sunday, July 1.

According to the statement, Ekweremadu confirmed the move during an interactive session with Fulbright Scholars, Exchange Scholars, and Graduate Students at the International Centre for Information and Nelson Mandela Institute of Research in his maiden lectures as a Professor and Senior Mentoring Scholar, E-Governance and Strategic Government Studies, Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Social Sciences in Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

The statement read in part: "In response to the rising insecurity and killings in Nigeria, the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is set to sponsor a bill to decentralise nation’s policing system."

The Ekweremadu called for a change of the current security system which he described as “dysfunctional and unsuitable for a federal system”.

He expressed confidence that the bill would receive backing from state governors and other security stakeholders who are growing extremely frustrated by the current security arrangements nationwide.

Ekweremadu noted that recent events have proved beyond reasonable doubt that the current centraliased security system would never help the government to live up to its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of its citizens.

He said: “I think people are now facing the stack reality. I have been getting calls from serving and former governors and key players and interests, who were opposed to the idea of state police. They confess they have seen what some of us have been shouting from the rooftops over the years. They want the bill introduced.

“The Governors Forum are also favourably disposed to the idea now. In fact, their Chairman, the governor of Zamfara State, one of the epicentres of the incessant killings recently ‘resigned’ his position as the chief security officer of his state as the current constitutional arrangement denies him the powers, manpower, and resources to stem the killings in his state.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

“The bill will also address the fears of Nigerians opposed to state police. Just like the judiciary, the bill will provide for a central police service commission and also structure the state police services in ways that immune them from abuse by any governor or state. It is also a bill we can conclude in record time.”

NAIJ.com recently reported that Ekweremadu raised the alarm over the escalating killings and insecurity in Nigeria, warning that more lives would be lost unless the nation’s security architecture was reorganised.

Ekweremadu, who was reacting to the recent killings in Plateau state, decried the reluctance of the nation’s leaders to tinker with the nation’s security structure, despite glaring lapses.

The senator, who spoke after decorating his newly promoted security aides commended the Nigeria Police for the recent promotion exercise, noting that such would motivate the personnel to give their best.

Osinbajo highlights reasons for incessant herdsmen troubles, proffers solution on NAIJ.com TV