The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, PDP-GF, has renewed its call for the total overhaul of the security architecture of the country and the establishment of state police in the face of what it called “spiraling incidents of mindless killings of innocent Nigerians across the country and rising cases of kidnappings, rape and other violent crimes”.
In a communique at the end of a virtual meeting on Tuesday, February, 16, 2021, the Forum also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a consultative meeting of Nigeria Police Council, NPC, to appoint an Inspector of Police whether in acting or permanent capacity.
According to the Forum, the NPC as envisaged under the 1999 Constitution is the statutory Council for discussion of security matters in the country, particularly with respect to policing.
“Nigeria Police Force as an institution is a common service agency for all tiers of government in Nigeria, that is why the Nigeria Police Council is made up of President as Chairman, 36 State Governors, Chairman of Police Service Commission and Inspector General of Police as members” the communique reads in part.
As it concerns the newly introduced community policing infrastructure by the Government, the PDP-GF carpeted its implementation across the country as it “is already being implemented more in breach”
The Forum, noted that “the current Nigeria Police Act envisaged that community policing should serve as a decentralised measure of grass roots policing and various roles assigned to various parties, including the governors of the states”
Unfortunately, the Forum said “in the Constitution and operationalisation of the community policing activities in the various states so far, partisanship has taken over the recruitment process” adding “we no longer have faith in the neutrality and capacity of the Community Policing system to serve the purposes envisaged under the new Police Act, we therefore call on the Police authorities to sanitize the system”
On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill pending before the National Assembly, the Forum urged the National Assembly to expedite action in the passage of the Bill.
“This is necessary in other to avoid the pitfalls that befell the amendment process in the 8th National Assembly, where Mr. President vetoed the Bill on the ground among others, that the amendment came too late in the day” the communique added.
The Forum congratulated Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and wished her well in her new assignment. The Forum further requested her to use her new office to facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and other countries.
PDP Governors that attended the meeting were Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Sokoto State Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor Abia State, Vice Chairman, Sen. Bala Mohammed, governor Bauchi State, Sen. Duoye Diri Governor Bayelsa State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor Enugu State, Seyi Makinde, Governor Oyo State and Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku, Governor Taraba State.