The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has thrown its weight behind the proposed establishment of state police, insisting that governors must have the constitutional authority to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police for the initiative to reflect true federalism.
The forum argued that granting such powers to state governors, similar to those exercised by the President over the Inspector-General of Police, is essential for the success of state policing.
The position formed part of the resolutions reached at the forum's stakeholders' meeting held on Tuesday at the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) liaison office in Abuja.
The meeting brought together leaders of key socio-cultural organisations, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF).
Among those in attendance were former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah; former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo; PANDEF National Chairman, Dr Godknows Igali; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; and other prominent leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt regions.
Reading the communiqué issued after the meeting, Chairman of the forum and factional leader of Afenifere, Chief Oladipo Olaitan, reiterated the group's long-standing support for the creation of state police but stressed that the proposed arrangement must not undermine the principles of true federalism.
According to him, any policing structure that denies governors operational control over state police commissioners would merely replicate the existing centralised system under a different name.
"SMBLF welcomes state police, of which we have been advocates over the years, but insists that state police should reflect true federalism and not a federal state police system.
"State governors should have the same constitutional powers to appoint and remove Commissioners of Police as the President has with respect to the Inspector-General of Police," Olaitan said.
The forum maintained that only a decentralised policing structure, backed by constitutional autonomy for state governments, would effectively address the country's growing security challenges and strengthen Nigeria's federal system.
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