Femi Adesina: Obasanjo had 8 years to address clamour for state police — but he did nothing

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, says former President Olusegun Obasanjo did “nothing” to address issues on restructuring and state police during his tenure.

Recently, the debate on restructuring and creation of state police has been at the frontburner of Nigerian political discourse.

Owing to rising insecurity in many parts of the country, many Nigerians have clamoured for the creation of state police.

On Thursday, Obasanjo said the current security challenges of the country require state police instead of the community policing model.

In the past, the former president had rejected the clamour for state police.

Speaking on Friday in an interview with Channels Television, Adesina said Obasanjo has the right to hold a different opinion from the past.

He added that the former president had the opportunity to address the clamour for restructuring and state police.

“Former President Obasanjo has a right to hold a different opinion from what he held in the past,” the presidential spokesperson said.

“But I recall under him restructuring of the federation was a key issue that Afenifere fought for and then there was the issue of state police, which also resonated loudly under him, he did not do anything in 8 years.

“Like I said, he has the right to change him mind now but it does not remove the fact that he had the opportunity to have done something about those issues then but he did not do.”