Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has expressed utter regret and disappointment over the rejection of an amendment to the 1999 Constitution that would have enabled willing states in the country to establish their own police force, saying the attitude displayed by some members of the House Committee on Constitution Review had reinforced the notion that most of the National Assembly members were not there to serve the best interests of the majority of Nigerians.
Afenifere said this on Thursday in a statement made available to newsmen by its spokesperson, Comrade Jare Ajayi, noting that the feeling across the length and breadth of Nigeria today was the need to take every legitimate step to combat the unprecedented security challenge facing the country.
Afenifere said this on Thursday in a statement made available to newsmen by its spokesperson, Comrade Jare Ajayi, noting that the feeling across the length and breadth of Nigeria today was the need to take every legitimate step to combat the unprecedented security challenge facing the country.
“As is well known, one of the best means of combating such challenges is to design measures that may be unique – from one area to another. The peculiar security challenge we have presently demands the formulation of local strategies to complement that of the central government. In this particular case, State and Local Government Police are very necessary if we truly want to overcome the challenges of insecurity especially that of banditry and terrorism,” the group posited.
Afenifere commended Hon. Onofiok Luke from Akwa Ibom for the amendment to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to enable states to have power to set up State Police and also commended other 10 members of the House that voted in support of the amendment, while it frowned very seriously at the 14 members who voted against the amendment, but quickly asserted that “it is not too late for our lawmakers to retrace their step on this matter.” (Tribune)