Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has accused the Federal Government of deceiving Nigerians regarding the establishment of state police, calling the ongoing discussions a waste of time. Speaking at a joint mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan, Makinde recalled that South-West governors initially pushed for state police but settled for the regional security network Amotekun in 2020 as a temporary measure.
Makinde Criticizes Federal Government on State Police
“We wanted state police. It was because we couldn’t get the state police that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” Makinde said. “They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time.” He emphasized that the South-West states coordinated through their houses of assembly to legalize Amotekun, demonstrating the region's commitment to addressing insecurity.
Lagos State's Refusal to Join Amotekun
Makinde pointed out that Lagos was the only South-West state that refused to establish Amotekun, attributing this to President Bola Tinubu’s opposition. “The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos state, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun,” he claimed. This remark highlights the political dynamics within the region.
Call for Political Will at Subnational Level
The governor urged the Federal Government to grant state assemblies the necessary authority to establish state police, asserting that it could be operational “within the shortest possible time” if political will exists at the subnational level. He described insecurity as a major pillar of his administration, noting that Amotekun was established early in his tenure after realizing full state police powers were not forthcoming.
Makinde’s statement comes in the wake of the mass abduction of pupils, students, and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, underscoring the urgency of security reforms. He reiterated that the Federal Government must stop deceiving Nigerians and take concrete steps toward decentralizing the police force.
