PRP To Tinubu: Suspend Creation Of State Police Until After 2027 Election; Your Action “Suspicious”

The opposition party described the government’s action as suspicious, saying the administration has mismanaged existing security institutions in the country.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the National Chairman of the party, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the fact that the administration is rushing to  create state police at this time raises a lot of question, contending that the process should be suspended for now.

The party’s reaction comes after the bill for the creation  of state police passed the Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Nigerian Senate.

The House of Representatives is also deliberating on the Bill as sources said the lower house of the National  Assembly will pass it in few days, after which it will be sent to the 36 states in the country for endorsement.

Two third of the 36 states Houses of Assembly in the country  is required to pass the amendment, following which the President is expected to give assent.

The plan to create state police has received positive reactions from not a few Nigerians, who contend that it may help to address the lingering security  problems in the country, saying Federal Police has been overwhelmed with the level of criminality in the country, particularly terrorism, banditry and kidnapping which appear to have been in the upsurge in recent times.

While the PRP did not oppose it creation, the party however argued that it should not be rushed now that the next general election in the country is very close, adding that serious national issues should be addressed after the 2027 election.

“The forthcoming election should be a threshold which should be crossed with credibility and popular acclaim before the nation decides on important issues such as state police structures,” Baba-Ahmed stated.