By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, on Thursday opposed plans by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to establish state police through a constitutional amendment, declaring that the Federal Government lacks the moral authority and public trust needed to undertake such a far-reaching reform of Nigeria’s policing structure.
The party maintained that while Nigeria urgently needs reforms to strengthen its security architecture, the current administration lacks the level of public confidence required to drive such a fundamental change.
In a statement by its National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the PRP said the push for state police was coming at a time of dwindling public confidence in government institutions.
“The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) is deeply concerned about plans by President Tinubu’s administration to procure State Police through constitutional amendment at a time when its credibility and competence are at an unprecedented low level in our democratic history.
“Going by precedent and record, this administration will almost certainly secure what is needed to amend the constitution and actualise its desire to establish State Police.
“While Nigeria needs a major review and overhaul of its security and law and order institutions to address national security and create an environment that should raise citizens’ confidence and faith in leaders and critical institutions, this administration lacks the moral assets and the trust of Nigerians to undertake a major shift in the policing structure of the country,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The PRP further faulted the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, administration’s handling of security, saying its proposal for state police should be rejected.
“The APC administration has failed to manage our security structure and institutions. ” It’s a plan to engineer the emergence of State Police is suspicious, and it should be rejected,” Baba-Ahmed added.
The party also urged Nigerians to treat the next general election as a crucial democratic test before the country embarks on major constitutional and institutional reforms.
“The forthcoming election should be a threshold which should be crossed with credibility and popular acclaim before the nation decides on important issues such as state police structures,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The PRP said the current administration should instead focus on improving security and protecting citizens nationwide.
