Shehu Sani doesn’t support creation of state police, warns Govs will recruit thugs into it to rig elections
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Shehu Sani, former Senator now a staunch critic of both Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor Bola Tinubu, has expressed opposition to the creation of state police in fear of it leading to abuse, election rigging, and anarchy.
He warned Governors will recruit party thugs into the outfit and use it to rig elections.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly (NASS), bared his mind on his X (Twitter) handle in the wake of reports last week Tinubu and all the 36 Governors agreed in principle to establish state police at their meeting in Abuja.
“The State Police will be used by the Governors to persecute the opposition, to harass ‘non-indigenes.
“To rig elections and to counter the federal police in case of conflict of interest between the Federal Government and the state.
“Most of the state ruling party thugs will be recruited into the state police,” Sani wrote.”
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris announced agreement on state police after the meeting between Tinubu and Governors in Abuja.
“There is also a discussion around the issue of state police. The federal government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police,” Idris said.
“Of course, this is still going to be further discussed. A lot of work has to be done in that direction. But if [the federal] government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.
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Discussing around state police
Agitation for the creation of state police primarily stems from the centralised nature of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) that is inadequate for addressing security challenges across the country.
Proponents argue state police will bring law enforcement closer to grassroots communities and ensure local control of security as well as effective policing.