Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, has called for the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force as a significant component of the envisaged restructuring exercise.
Ekweremadu stated this at a two-day Retreat by Southern Senators Forum in Calabar at the weekend, and dismissed the fear in certain quarters that restructuring Nigeria would cause the break-up of the country.
He said the rating of International Police Association and the Institute for Peace and Security of Nigeria Police as the worst police in the world called to mind the imperative of restructuring of the nation’s police.
He pointed out that the rating had been the worst on all the measured parameters because the police had not been effectively decentralised.
He said, “Nigeria is the only country in the world with a federal system of government but running a unitary system of policing. Again, it is not realistic to expect the North to easily give away the advantages the status quo confers on it.”
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He explained that restructuring was not the same as exclusive resource control as the renewed and aggressive search for oil around the Lake Chad, Sokoto and Benue River Basins in recent times appeared to suggest.
According to him, whereas federating units will have more control over their resources in a restructured Nigeria, there would always be an Equalisation Fund to ensure that every region thrives above a reasonable threshold.
The lawmaker pointed out that the subject of restructuring appeared to have had divided opinions. He recalled that Nigeria’s independence was delayed till 1960 to give room for more dialogue and ensure that no part of the country was left behind.
He explained that it was wisdom of the founding fathers that ensured that the current map of Nigeria was retained, stressing that there was no other viable option than restructuring if Nigeria must reap the blessings and promises of self-rule.
According to him, it must be done in a way that every part of the country will have a true sense of belonging.
He urged Nigerians to embark on more responsible and patriotic public discourse and enlightenment to break down the meaning and processes of restructuring,