In the face of the daunting insecurity in the country and the Southern part being badly hit, the Oodua People's Congress New Era has called on the Southern Governors' forum to fast track the take off of State Policing as part of measures to nip the situation in the bud.
According to an open letter addressed to the new Chairman of the Southern Governors' forum,Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the body bemoaned relatively unsafe and insecure state of the southern part of the country.
The President of the OPC New Era, Arogundade Rasaq stated that the body believes that the governors of the southern states of the federation should make hay while the sun shines concerning the issue of state and community policing. He added that body is against the deployment of southern's 'scare local resources to pamper a useless federal police structure which evidently is not in the interest of southern citizens.
The letter titled The need to expedite action on the commencement of State Policing read in full " I extend the greetings and well wishes of our leaders and the entire cadre of this organization. We especially commend you on efforts that have seen the states of southern Nigeria remain relatively safe and secure in contrast to the orgy of violence in the north.
" I write to express the opinion of our organization which believes that the governors of the southern states of the federation should make hay while the sun shines concerning the issue of state and community policing. We are against the deployment of our scare local resources to pamper a useless federal police structure which evidently is not in the interest of our citizens.
" The reason for this thought arises as a result of the recent attack on the men of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise called the Amotekun Corps and hapless passersby by Fulani herdsmen over the first weekend of July. This, following other such recent attacks across the southern region exemplified by the attack and murder of four mourners by herdsmen in Nimbo, Ebonyi State on Sunday 28th April 2024 is no longer tenable.
"This is one attack too much. The operatives involved were on legal assignment protecting farmers and their farms, as well as enforcing the laws of Ondo State. It is therefore expedient that the governors of the southern states begin to take proactive steps to find a lasting solution to the persistent herder problem, as the reactive stance of our governors has been, and continues to be, at the detriment of other peace-loving citizens whose rights are infringed upon and are willfully kidnapped, maimed and slaughtered.
"This is more so as the attack was triggered by the response to herders’ invasion of farms, which has become a recurring decimal that prompted the enactment of anti-open grazing law in the state and many others in the south. And food insecurity will remain with Nigeria and its citizens for a long time if the rights and safety of farmers cannot be guaranteed. It is already acknowledged
" It beggars reason why the Southern Governors Forum should go out of their way to make what is today termed ‘the Asaba Declaration’ in May 2021. It is noteworthy that the 11 point declaration, particularly the second, third and fifth declarations directly address the issue at hand.
"The second declaration observed that “the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the Southern part of the country has presented security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives, including pursuing productive activities leading to a threat to food supply and general security”, concluding that open grazing should be banned across Southern Nigeria.
The third declaration, noting that “development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospect of conflicts between migrating herders and local populations in the South” concluded that it was now “imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot).”
The fifth declaration called for the restructuring of Nigeria, noting that “the progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold and bold steps be taken to restructure the NIGERIAN FEDERATION leading to the evolution of state police …” among other demands which will legitimately advance our commitment to and practice of true federalism. This was reaffirmed by the governors in item (3b) of the communique of their Lagos meeting months later, where the governors again re-emphasized the need for STATE POLICE.
Restructuring of Nigeria (point 5): The governors agreed that "the progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments and creation of other institutions which legitimately advance our commitment to and practice of true federalism."
The Southern Governors Forum has proven its clout and effectiveness with the stance and success achieved on the matter of a Southern presidency in the last election. The meetings and resolutions of the forum firmly abated the hitherto northern demand and triggered a corresponding push for a southern president across the board.
What needs to be done now is the consolidation of your progressive thoughts with equally progressive and dynamic actions. We need the members of the Southern Governors Forum, individually and collectively (as was done with the banning of open cattle grazing) to match their talk with action.
It is a fact that Nigeria’s problem is beyond one simple solution. The way out is for the governors to embark on policies that will benefit their respective states and the general public. And from the former President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, they have good advice. Lawan in reaction to the Asaba declaration, particularly the ban on open grazing said, “the Southern governors must ensure that they restructure their respective states first before calling for at the federal level”
It is therefore clear for all to see that; restructuring is the most viable option out of the logjam Nigeria currently finds itself. And every opportunity that presents itself must be seized and utilized to maximum benefit. The idea of creating state laws which will not be enforced is ill advised and counter-productive for the federating units. The call for state policing has never been this popular, and it is imperative for the Southern Governors Forum to seize this opportunity and leave a lasting legacy for others to follow.
I once again commend your efforts towards giving the citizens a good life and pray for God’s continued guidance in your administration of our commonwealth.
I remain yours in service,
AROGUNDADE Rasak (Sadam)
President
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