Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan has disagreed with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun on his position on State Police.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Goodluck Jonathan to have said the issue of State Police in Nigeria is not negotiable as it is already “a settled matter”.
Jonathan, who spoke at the national dialogue on State Police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja, said: “There is no way we can manage our internal security if we don’t have state police”.
Drawing from his time as the President, Dr, Jonathan revealed that the 2014 National Conference unanimously endorsed the establishment of “State Police, National Border Guard and National Coast Guard”.
The former President, however, said that Nigerians including the National Assembly must focus on how to create an operational framework for State Police in a way that enhances Nigeria’s security architecture for the overall security and progress of Nigeria.
Speaking further, Jonathan highlighted the perceived role of politicians, especially governors whom many analysts believe would use State Police to harass political opponents.
The former President called on the panellists in the national dialogue to focus on: “How do we ensure that state political actors do not abuse the state police.”
Earlier in his goodwill message, IGP Egbetokun had expressed his disapproval of the creation of State Police, in line with the concerns raised by Jonathan.
He, however, suggested the merger of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with the police for effectiveness.
