By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo state is one of the states that did not submit any memorandum on state police. This is as Governor Seyi Makinde called the request a waste of time.
Although, the governor had at different places and times aligned with the creation of state Police, he said the recent call for memoranda by the National Economic Council was unconstitutional.
Speaking when contacted by Corenews, the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser (Media) to the governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju said what the governor expects was that the issue of state police is a constitutional matter that can only be effected by the National Assembly.
He said, no matter the decision reached or whatever is agreed on by the NEC remains of no effect until same is initiated and or effected by the National Assembly.
Olanrewaju said “The governor has not hidden his decision and support for the creation of state Police.
“The matter is a constitutional matter and can only be effected by the National Assembly. Calling for memoranda from state governors, according to Governor Makinde is a waste of time because it can not achieve any result.
“What the Governor was saying was that, a bill could have been initiated, calling for the amendment of the necessary laws from the National Assembly and same sent to the states for necessary work.
“Oyo State is ready for State Police. If the matter is approved today, in a matter of weeks, it will kick off in Oyo state, it will just be a matter of amending and templating the required state laws.
“We have all that is set already. The governor has invested so much in the state security architecture both in the conventional Policing and even Amotekun.”
Corenews reports that Governor Makinde had during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today described the submission of memoranda by governors for state police as a waste of time.
The governor also faulted 16 governors’ submission of a report on the matter to the National Economic Council, NEC.
Makinde who on the live TV confirmed that he did not submit any memorandum reiterated his position on the subject matter, saying state police can best be handled by the National Assembly and not the National Economic Council or the National Security Adviser.
Makinde had said, “I did not submit any memorandum on state police. But my position is very clear about state police. I see it, quite frankly, as a waste of our time.
“I did not submit, not because of arrogance but because I don’t think the approach will quickly get us to where we want to go. You are asking the states to submit memoranda on how state police will work.
“The National Assembly, they know what to do. They have people that can quickly do this work.
“It is not the National Security Adviser or the National Economic Council that will deal with the issue of state police.
“It is a constitutional thing and should go to the National Assembly. Then, at the state level, we get our state houses of assembly to pass this law.”
