Should policemen be withdrawn from lawmakers and clergymen?

Retired AIG Ambrose Aisabor recently advised that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should withdraw police personnel from members of the National Assembly and clergymen. He argued that only principal officers deserved police orderlies and not just any lawmaker. Daily Trust Saturday sought the opinions of some Nigerians.

Fatimah Binta Idris, 25, Entrepreneur, Kaduna

The primary assignment of the police is to protect lives and property. I think they should not be withdrawn from lawmakers but the number should be reduced. They should be withdrawn from clergymen, at least they have the Dogaris (palace guards). The government is wasting tax payers’ money providing security only for a few. They should as a matter of urgency increase the number of policemen in the country so that the Nigerian state can be safe and secure for its citizens.

Tolumobofa Akpoebibo Jonathan, Commander, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Bayelsa State

As Nigerians we all know the duties of the police. They are to protect lives and property and sustain growth and development. When we are talking about security challenge. I don’t think the idea of withdrawing policemen from lawmakers and clergymen is good. The police have many duties and this is why it appears they are not working when they are trying their best.

If policemen are withdrawn from lawmakers and clergymen, it means their security is not guaranteed. They are vital components of the society and occupy very important offices, for which they need security presence at all times. If policemen are withdrawn from these people, it’s going to be disastrous and it will not speak well for our nation.

David West, Member, Civil Liberty Organization, Bayelsa State

The retinue of police officers going around with lawmakers and clergymen is not good. A citizen is entitled to four policemen, so, as far as I’m concerned, ordinary Nigerians are not protected. Policemen who would have been giving proper security to the citizenry are going around with lawmakers. Imagine one lawmaker going around with security officers who are supposed to be at the station or at their posts taking care of lives and property. The security of clergymen should be in the hands of God. So many of them are not true men of God. Jesus Christ during his days on earth did not work with even one security man, so it’s funny that preachers are the ones parading security aides. The withdrawal of policemen from lawmakers and clergymen is not a bad idea but a welcome development.

Sekyen Dadik, 36, Media Development Specialist, Kaduna

I am sure it was well intended at first to protect their lives being VIPs. It is however unfortunate that it has been abused, especially by those in public offices and their families. Some policemen are made to carry bags. Also, our security situation is getting bad in the country and these VIPs do not feel what the ordinary Nigerian is feeling because they are being protected. For example, when travelling from Abuja to Kaduna, they blare their sirens and pass through, but for the ordinary person, when you are travelling, you start thinking of your safety. I think the police should be retrained so that they can perform their primary function of protecting lives and property.

Muhammad Haruna, 30, ICT Expert, Kaduna

I am of the opinion that policemen should not be withdrawn, especially from clergymen. But the politicians or lawmakers can survive without the police because they are elected by the people, therefore they should not be afraid of serving the people that put them in office, rather they should find solutions to the problem of insecurity.

Chief Nengi James, Chairman, Civil Liberty Organization, Bayelsa State

It is not about lawmakers and clergymen alone. Generally, the police are underemployed, they lack personnel. If they have adequate personnel, they can provide security for all Nigerians, including lawmakers and clergymen. Their withdrawal will not solve the security challenges confronting the country. They are trained to secure all Nigerians.

Based on Nigerian law, the police are not supposed to escort people, except some top government functionaries, so they should not only be withdrawn from lawmakers and clergymen, but all private persons and institutions who are not constitutionally meant to have police protection. How can a local government chairman be going around with more than ten police officers? How can a House of Assembly member move with more than ten police officers? It is uncalled for.

Maman Muhammad, 29, Youth Corps member, Kaduna

The police should not be withdrawn from lawmakers and clergymen, but I will suggest that the federal government or Police Service Commission reduce the number of policemen attached to VIPs. If they cannot do that then more policemen and women should be recruited so we can have many of them securing the country. They should not be withdrawn. If they are, we will be exposing lawmakers and clergymen to danger. However, the money spent on them is too much.

Nkereuwem Etim Inyang, Student, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

The idea of withdrawing policemen from lawmakers and clergymen is not the best. In a country where some citizens do not have a kobo in their pocket or cannot move freely, how can these government officials and clergymen go without being guarded. Let us not forget that lawmakers are politicians and people believe they make a lot of money from government. That alone can attract criminals. In Nigeria, once you are in public office, people think you must have stolen billions. Even some policies that politicians make based on their positions in government could cause bad blood and expose them to danger, so they need police protection, including their family members.

As for clergymen, according to our religion, we believe that God always protects men of God. But we forget that they are also flesh and blood like us. If they have the means to get police officers to provide security for them, I don’t think it is a bad idea. They are not spirits.