State police: Govs must control CPs, Southern, M’Belt leaders insist

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum on Tuesday endorsed the proposed establishment of state police but insisted that governors must have full constitutional powers to appoin The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum on Tuesday endorsed the proposed establishment of state police but insisted that governors must have full constitutional powers to appoint and remove state Commissioners...

• The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum on Tuesday endorsed the proposed establishment of state police but insisted that governors must have full constitutional powers to appoin The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum on Tuesday endorsed the proposed establishment of state police but insisted that governors must have full constitutional powers to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police, just as the President exercises authority over the Inspector-General of Police.
• The forum, comprising prominent socio-cultural organisations including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Middle Belt Forum, said anything short of such autonomy would amount to creating a “federal state police” rather than a genuinely decentralised policing system rooted in true federalism.The position formed part of resolutions reached at a general meeting of stakeholders and elder statesmen held at PANDEF’s liaison office in Abuja.The meeting was attended by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah; former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo; National Chairman of PANDEF, Dr Godknows Igali; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, and other leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt regions.
• Reading the communiqué, the chairman of the forum and factional leader of Afenifere, Chief Oladipo Olaitan, reiterated the group’s long-standing support for state policing but stressed that it must reflect the principles of true federalism.