Insecurity: Ogun monarch backs state police creation

The Oba-elect of the Ososa Kingdom in Makun, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, Abdullateef Shofowora, has thrown his weight behind calls for the establishment of state police.

This, the monarch said, would help to reduce the spate of insecurity across the country.

Shofowora made the call at the foundation laying of an ultramodern palace held on Saturday.

He noted that the state police architecture had been a model practised by developed nations, which, if well implemented, could be adopted in Nigeria.

Shofowora said, “We are just running away from our shadow. For example, they said if we have state police, the governors will misuse it, they will abuse it, but when you travel abroad, it is done over there.

“In America and the United Kingdom, there are state police, and they don’t carry arms, but they’re everywhere.

“They can control the security of the locality and the local people because they know their people. When there are state police, they command their community. They know the residents, they know their neighbours, and the people with whom they live.

“So when they see strange faces, they can attack them. Ask them questions. With that, I think the security will be reduced to the barest minimum.”

He also called for the devolution of constitutional roles to traditional rulers, stressing that such roles were not meant to compete with the government but to acknowledge and empower traditional institutions closer to the grassroots.

“Before now, the Obas have had their roles in keeping their community united and making sure that there is an effective security system. Then there was respect for the traditional institutions.

“Our Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly, can sit down and bring back this old glory, so that everywhere you go, you see the king, you see the emir, you see the Igwe in control of their community.

“There’s nothing wrong with the government coming on board and taking over the responsibility, but not all. They should be allowed to run the government in parallel with the local government,” the monarch said.

He stressed the need for the government to regulate the activities of some real estate developers to deter them from encroaching on community lands.

He lamented that while there were legitimate real estate companies that played by the rules, others took delight in sponsoring unrest in communities just for land-grabbing purposes.