Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called on the Federal Government to cease misleading the public regarding the establishment of State Police. Speaking at an event, as captured in a widely circulated video, Makinde recalled how the Southwest states introduced the Amotekun Corps as a temporary measure.
Amotekun as a Stopgap
According to the governor, Amotekun was created only after the region's governors encountered obstacles in their push for State Police. “Some people will know insecurity was one of the major pillars of this administration when we established Omitutun phase one and phase two, and it will remain a major pillar. Before this government’s emergence, there was nothing like Amotekun in Oyo State. We wanted State Police. It was because we couldn’t get the State Police that we established Amotekun as a stopgap. They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time,” he stated.
Legislative Path to State Police
Makinde argued that State Police could be established by states through their legislatures, bypassing the bureaucratic hurdles between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force. He elaborated, “We know how we established Amotekun. The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly is here. We passed a common law in the whole of the Southwest. The whole Houses of Assembly in all states in the Southwest passed the law, and that led to the creation of Amotekun. The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos State, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun.”
He further urged the Federal Government to stop deceiving Nigerians. “At this stage, they should stop deceiving us. If they want to establish State Police, don’t ask the Inspector General of Police to create it for us. Our state assembly will create it. Give them the authority and support, and within the shortest possible time, State Police will come to be,” Makinde said.
