Sir Chikwe Udensi
Nigeria, not ripe for state police – Security expert, says regional security structure preferable
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Security expert, Sir Chikwe Udensi, has stated that state governors in the country should not be entrusted with security of their states, arguing creating a State Police structure would empower them to persecute their political opponents.
This is as he posited that regional security outfits were preferable for the moment.
Udensi contended that a governor who could not tolerate ordinary criticism should not be trusted with apex control of state security.
Udensi, an Interpol Systems Consultant, backed President Muhammadu Buhari for rejecting state police, insisting that it may be prone to abuse by the governors. Recently, President Buhari was quoted to have rejected the request for creation of State Police, saying that it was not an option.
According the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship hopeful, majority of the governors in Nigeria were not tolerant of even slight criticisms.
He opined that governors would use state police to pursue political agenda, adding that it would be dangerous to trust them with the command and control of arms.
Udensi who appeared in a radio programme monitored in Umuahia, said regional security outfits in the likes of EbubeAgu and Amotekun should be adopted instead of State Police.
The Security expert cited intolerance of the opposition and adverse reactions to criticisms by governor as the major reasons why they should not be trusted with responsibility of overseeing State Police at this period of Nigeria’s political development.
He noted that the actions of the state governors have betrayed them as not being receptive of diverse opinions, which has portrayed them as being incapable of handling State Police.
“When someone holds a different opinion from what they have, it’s always a serious problem; you see how they react. That gives you an idea of what they will do when you give them arms.
“If you take a look at what is happening in the nation, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts election, almost all the political parties, even small ones, will win positions.
“But you give state governors opportunity to conduct local government elections through the State Independent Electoral Commissions, look at the results. No other party will win anything, including councillorship position, even assistant councillorship position, if there is anything like that, apart from their own party.
“It gives you the picture of who they are, giving them the authority of arms is not the right thing to do now,“ he said.
While backing regional police, Sir Udensi applauded Amotekun, the South West security outfit, saying they have helped in tackling crime in the region.
He called on South East Governors to arm EbubeAgu, commending Ebonyi and Anambra states for their efforts in bringing the security outfit to the fore in crime fighting. The APGA stalwart maintained that the federal government should be in control of the Police while the regions take control of their security arrangements.
