The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, explained his removal of Aide De Camp (ADC) to Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, as a tact to prevent electoral malpractices which have occurred in the past. Obaino had complained that his life is in danger following the removal of his security detail as he does not feel comfortable contesting for the forthcoming Governorship elections.
Obaino described the IG’s directive as a threat to his life, unacceptable and unfair to his office and person, adding that, contesting for the elections did not remove him as the current Governor of the State.
While reacting to the withdrawal, Mr Idris said it was necessary due to previous experiences, in which an ADC was caught, escorting an unnamed Governor with arms loaded in a vehicle.
“We do not mean anything bad to Anambra governor on this action; his ADC will be returned to him early Sunday morning after the governorship election on Saturday Nov.18.
“We have equally withdrawn all the policemen attached to political appointees, Local Government Chairmen and others in Anambra till after the election.’’
Every Governor is the Chief Security Officer (CSO), of his State. He is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring security, peaceful co-existence and promotion of unity among those he governs. The withdrawal of Obiano’s security is one among many of the issues that have seen Governors clamouring for creation of State Police.
State Police, if created, will see each Governor having total control of its own Police Force without the interference from the Federal Government.
During one of the Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) the then Ekiti State Governor, now the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi said each State is supposed to have a security apparatus of its own.
“That is not to say that we still won’t have a Federal Police which responds to Federal issues but in terms of wider knowledge of what obtains in my locality, the best person to use is somebody from that locality who has a much better, much richer understanding and will be faster in response to the immediate needs of that environment.”
The Country is also in a dearth of Police personnel, as there are just 400,000 officers in the Force which is far from United Nations recommendations of 222 Policemen to 100,000 persons, an average of one policeman to 450 persons.
The IGP had said in July that the Country is not ready for State Police due to its political maturity.
“I sincerely believe that the Federal Police is still the best for the country and with improved funding the challenges of crime will be addressed.
“Those agitating for state police should consider the level of our political maturity,” he said, according to a statement by police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood.
Mr idris opined that the Police can be manipulated if they are being controlled independently by the Governors.
Considering the example of how Security aides escorted an unnamed Governor carrying arms in a vehicle, it may also mean that some Governors can use the Police to pursue and haunt opposition or perceived enemies.
Some believe that the State Police would give free rein to the Governors to sway votes in their favour, or of their parties, by threatening electorates during elections.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Lateef Fagbemi countered the opinion, saying the creation of State Police, will effectively tackle insecurity challenges in the Country.
“I have before criticized the chiding of the authority over policing to the states, but the event which followed has showed that we need to give it a trial.
“It has worked in other areas like the United States, where they have the local police authority and state police authority with defined functions.
“I think we can try as much as possible to borrow a leaf from them and give it a trial,’’ Fagbemi said.
It is also speculated that, with the advent of State Police, communities and Local Government will be more secure, as Police would be deployed effectively to all corners of the State and even, more importantly, by people who know the state and will always be around to give account.
President Buhari has ordered the reinstatement of Governor Obaino’s ADC hours after the Senate did the same.
