Galadima Condemns State Police Initiative
Buba Galadima, a prominent ally of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu's push to establish state police in Nigeria. Speaking during an interview on AriseTV on Tuesday, June 30, Galadima argued that the proposed state police force would be weaponized to intimidate opposition parties during elections.
President Tinubu had formally transmitted the Constitution Alteration Bill to the National Assembly, which seeks to create the State Police Service. The Senate is expected to debate the bill on Wednesday during its emergency sittings. If passed, the bill will require ratification by a two-thirds majority of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before the president can give his assent.
State Police: A Tool for Political Suppression?
While many lawmakers and governors have welcomed the move as a solution to Nigeria's security challenges, Galadima expressed deep skepticism. He asserted that the state police would not effectively address insecurity but would instead be used as political thugs by the president and governors to attack the opposition.
In his words: "Nobody ever conceived the idea of state police to sort out security. If the police and military cannot solve security situations in Nigeria, I wonder how the state police will be able to do that. All that we know is that the president and governors are looking for state police before the elections so that they can use them as political thugs to attack the opposition."
Concerns Over Electoral Integrity
Galadima's remarks highlight a growing concern among opposition figures that the state police could undermine Nigeria's electoral process. He stressed that the current security apparatus, including the police and military, has failed to curb insecurity, and creating a state-level force would not remedy the situation. Instead, he warned, it would concentrate more power in the hands of state executives, potentially leading to abuse during elections.
The bill's transmission to the National Assembly marks a significant step in Tinubu's security reform agenda. However, Galadima's criticism underscores the deep political divide over the proposal. As the Senate prepares to debate the bill, the opposition continues to voice fears that the state police could become a tool for political repression rather than a genuine solution to Nigeria's security problems.
