Olorogun Albert Akpomudje (SAN), a Life Bencher and Prime Minister (Otota) of the Ancient Olomu Kingdom in Delta State, has said that Nigerians are opposed to the idea of state police due to fear, News About Nigeria reports.
He mentioned this in an interview with newsmen, noting that the fear of intimidation has kept Nigerians greatly opposed to the creation of state police.
He noted that, aside from the fear, the creation of a state police would have been a welcome development considering the high increase in insecurity all over the country.
He, however, noted that if there is a state police, politicians will use them against their opponents, adding that currently, once a governor wins in a particular state where he has control to conduct local government elections, for every state and for all the parties, the governor who is there, whether he is PDP or APC, usually ensures that his political party wins all the local government positions down to councillors.
“That is the fear of people that by the time you place police under the control of the governor as the chief security officers, just the way they are abusing the electoral system, they will use them to oppress and intimidate their political opponents.” He stated.
He, however, noted that to ensure that the creation of state police goes smoothly, measures must be put in place in the law establishing state police to checkmate the excesses of governors using state police to achieve their political aims.
He also noted that the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have not yielded any results, stating that Nigerians are not benefiting from his administration.
“I must say with all due respect that we are not seeing any result, rather things are going worse,” Akpomudje added.
