If Colombia can Have State Police, Why Not Nigeria – Obasanjo

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Nwolu Obiajulu

Obiajulu Nwolu is an established writer at africannewstoday.com. He is passionate about African affairs. He loves writing about interesting facts relating to the African continent and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others.

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Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria has lent his voice to the call for state police, saying it will make the establishment of Amotekun unnecessary.

Obasanjo though agreed that there were different views on restricting, said devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources had become necessary to allow for healthy competition among states.

He disclosed this on Sunday during a virtual interview hosted by a historian and columnist, Toyin Falola.

The erstwhile president had been against the establishment of state police, saying it was not right for the country.

Obasanjo was quoted to be of the view that the such would take the country back to the 1950s.

During the interview, the elder statesman, however, reportedly aligned with a statement credited to the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, that the country would know no peace until it instituted state police.

He said, “Why can’t we now have state police? I have been to a country like Colombia, in the last five years, at least a dozen times. They did exactly what we did. They moved from local and state police to national police. But now, they have gone back to state police or provincial police. Why can’t we do that? If we do that, there will be no need for Amotekun.

“The Federal Government can have mobile police and station them in strategic places, and only deploy when the state governor requires for it.”

He also said secondary schools and agriculture should be in the purview of states rather than the Federal Government.