Ekweremadu: Nigeria can create state police in 10 days

Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy president of the senate, says Nigeria can create state police in 10 days.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) committee on electoral act and constitution amendment which he now chairs, Ekweremadu said it only takes political will for the constitution to be amended in 10 days to provide the legal framework for state police.

The senator said urgent measures need to be taken to protect lives and property across the country.

“The weaknesses in our structure and the constitution we operate have never been as pronounced as they are today,” Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu’s media aide, quoted the lawmaker as saying in a statement on Thursday.

“I must also add that it is unfortunate that the rain, which some of us shouted on top of our voices, forewarning the nation against and even proposed policies and sponsored Bills to avert, is now beating us heavily.

“I rallied my colleagues and together we sponsored the bill for the creation of state police in the 8th national assembly. I am equally sponsoring a bill for the creation of state police in the current senate.

“Unfortunately, we do not appear ready yet or show a sense of urgency to stem the tide of insecurity or rebuild our economy through the decentralisation or devolution of power.

“With the right political will, the amendments to the constitution to achieve decentralised police and secure lives and property can be achieved in 10 days.”

According to him, the community policing initiative is “illusory, cosmetic, ephemeral, inorganic, and will certainly not change anything”.

“We must also have it at the back of our minds that things will probably get worse,” he said.