Kayode Egbetokun’s take on state police

In the midst of pervading insecurity that has crippled Nigeria with more states clamouring for the amendment of the constitution granting authorisation to policing by states, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, left his statutory duty to venture into an issue that Nigerians still having a healthy dialogue.

In the IGP’s view, the country is not riped for the institutionalisation of state police. He did not say what are the indices of the stage he considers Nigeria riped.

More remarkably, Egbetokun ventured into a subject he has no business in. As IGP, he probably sees himself as the chief law officer of the country after the President. Granted that may be the case. But he forgot that even at that, he is and remains an appointed public servant with defined duties. It is beyond his remìt to wade into a fundamental review of the terms of the federation as if he is King Kong.

He apparently is carried away by the lure of office whereby every state governor seeks his patronage as the sole authority in determining the issues to be taken on by the Police or where they could be deployed.
Egbetokun has probably not heard of the wanton killings, rape and destruction of property and farms in Ika and Aniocha areas of Delta State. He definitely has not visited despite the persistent cries of the people.

The IGP over reached himself in opposing the quest to amend the constitution and authorise the establishment of Police by states. His views are not relevant in the ongoing dialogue to that effect. The Lagos State House Assembly recently rightly disagreed with his view. As good as it is that the lawmakers disagreed with him, that is not enough. The IGP should know and, if he does not, be told that his job is to do whatever Nigerians decide is the best way for their country to be governed.