Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo says that amid growing insecurity, creation of a State police is a better option than community policing.
Obasanjo disclosed this when the leadership of the National Association of Ex-local government chairmen in Nigeria ( insert name) paid him a courtesy visit in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
The visit was led by the pioneer National chairman, Honourable Albert Asipa, the Ogun State chapter Chairman, Honourable Shoyemi Coker, Honourable Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju (Delta State) (Chairman BOT) and the traditional ruler of Odogbolu, His Royal Highness, Oba (Dr) Toye Mojeed Alatise, Gbegande of Ososa, a former chairman of Ijebu Ode local government area of Ogun State among others.
Former President Obasanjo commended the initiative of the formation of the body, and said that the development clearly showed that some local chairmen in the country were better than even the top elected leaders.
He responded to one of the speakers, Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju’s submission on creation of community police to curb the wave of insecurity and that the idea needed to be changed.
“Our security situation in Nigeria concerns everyone, particularly, the case of terrorism. The case has gone beyond the issue of community police. It is now State police and it is from that State Police that we can now be talking about community police,” Chief Obasanjo pointed out.
He identified the need to strengthen the traditional system and the local government administration.
“The one which I prepared during the popular Murtala/Obasanjo administration. I believe that there is need to enable that tier of government to work truly as a local government. It has its own Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.
“It was working and though was very visible, building and managing roads, looking into education, health, local administration, agriculture, but it was all gone,” he said.
The former President said that the experience the former chairmen gained while in local government administration was enough for them to aspire for higher posts, stressing that some of them are competent, have the ability and integrity to get to these posts.
Chief Obasanjo, who was presented with a letter of a life patron, assured the ex-chairmen that he would look into their request, and he would be available to their needs at all times.
Other dignitaries present include Hon. Abayomi Tella (National Organising Secretary), Hon. Garba Fatai Adeniyi (National Auditor), Hon. Ayantoye Adekunle ( State Chairman, Osun State), Hon Tajudeen Oke (State Chairman, Oyo State), Hon. Akinwunmi Sowore (State Chairman, Ondo State), Hon Ogidi Akindele (State Chairman, Ekiti State) and Hon Nicholas Akinbiola ( Ondo State).
