Public affairs analyst and chieftain of the opposition Action Democratic Party, ADP, Chris Emejuru, has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should immediately halt the state policing policy.
In a statement on Sunday, Emejuru said the Tinubu administration should instead channel its resources towards tackling the poverty faced by the majority of Nigerians.
His warning comes as the State Police Bill is currently undergoing constitutional amendments, under both chambers of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate, having already been passed and sent to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
Reacting to the bill, Emejuru noted that, “No amount of bullets, weapons, or tanks will put food in the stomach of a desperate youth.”
According to him, the primary focus of the Tinubu administration should be ending poverty.
He said, “Once you address poverty in the country, insecurity will reduce.”
“The issue regarding state policing in Nigeria should proceed with caution. It is a development that has potential but will not solve all of the security challenges facing Nigerians. Not yet within constitutional law, there are calls for safeguards to be put in place to ensure that corrupt forces will not hijack this pending reform. This is strategically necessary and well intended, but underlying issues need to be addressed.
“Tackling poverty should be the primary issue that needs to be addressed in Nigeria,” he stated.
Why Tinubu should immediately halt state policing policy – Emejuru