Benjamin Kalu: Fear of hijack won’t stop creation of state police

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, says concerns about hijack should not prevent the creation of state police.

The national assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution with the state police bill among the key proposals under consideration.

President Bola Tinubu and several governors have backed the move, saying it would tackle the nation’s prolonged security issues like banditry, kidnappings, and other violent crimes.

“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically,” Tinubu said early this month.

However, analysts have raised concerns that governors could abuse state police by weaponising them against the opposition.

‘IT’S FOR GREATER GOOD’

Speaking with journalists on Saturday in Abuja, Kalu, who chairs the house committee on constitution review, said the unbundling of the current police structure would improve the nation’s security.

“On the state police bill before the parliament, we are thinking about the response time of policing in Nigeria, which at the moment is below the global standard,” he said.

“The only way we can achieve this is if we unbundle it from how it is centralised, like other countries do: Municipal police, and state police.

“Just [as] the constitution is clear on what is on the concurrent and exclusive lists, certain subject matters will now be handled by the state and federal police, respectively.

“Let’s have this conversation on issues like this to know whether you want it or not, or should it be tailored in one way or another.

“There may be fears of hijacking it, but we cannot deny the majority of Nigerians the security of lives and property that we promised them as a government.

“So, we should look at the bigger picture. Everyone in Nigeria may not be a politician, but everyone needs the security of life and property.

“So, we are saying which one should we go for? The greater good or the fear of the minor threat? I think we should go for the greater good so that the good in the majority will suppress the threat in the minority.”

On demand for diaspora voting, Kalu warned that Nigeria must strengthen its local electoral system before allowing citizens to vote abroad.

“Rome was not built in a day. It will happen, but we must first put our house in order. If Nigerians say during constitutional amendment hearings that they want it, we will look at the possibility,” he said.