Buhari: State Police is not an option

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he believes that state police is not an option for the nation.

The President made the remark in an exclusive interview with Channels Television, which is scheduled to air at 7 pm on Wednesday.

• FLASHBACK: Buhari hasn’t fulfilled all his promises because he lacks the right team – Tofa
• Nigeria already practising state police – Ex-AIG Iwar

The calls for state policing, which have been made by several governors, became a talking point after some policemen who laid siege to an estate in Magodo, Lagos, defied Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to leave the place.

A Chief Superintendent of Police, Abimbola Oyewole, told the governor that he and his armed colleagues were at the estate on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; as well as the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The issue had sparked a controversy on social media.

But speaking with Channels Television, the President alluded to the propensity for Governors to abuse their powers as his argument against state police.

“State police is not an option… Find out the relationship between local government and the Governors. Are the third tier of government getting what they are supposed to get constitutionally? Are they getting it? Let the people in local government tell you the truth, the fight between local governments and the Governor.”

Commenting on the security situation in the country, the President said traditional rulers must play a huge role in bringing peace to communities.

He also advocated for more dialogue in solving the farmer-herder clashes recorded across the country.

“The role of traditional rulers must not be undermined, because in their areas they know who is who, even by families, not to even talk of individuals,” he said.