State police: Afenifere, Southern leaders seek powers for govs to appoint, sack CPs

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has declared its support for the creation of state police forces, with a crucial condition: state governors must possess the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss state Commissioners of Police, mirroring the President's power over the Inspector-General of Police.

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SMBLF welcomes state police, of which we have been advocates over the years, but insists that state police should reflect true federalism and not a Federal State Police. To that end, state governors shall have the same power to appoint or remove a Commissioner of Police as the President in relation to the Inspector-General of Police.

This stance, outlined in resolutions from a recent meeting in Abuja, emphasizes that without such autonomy for governors, the proposed state police would merely be a "Federal State Police" and not a genuinely decentralized policing system aligned with true federalism. The forum, which includes prominent socio-cultural groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, believes this is essential for a robust federal structure.

Leaders such as former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Victor Attah and PANDEF Chairman Dr. Godknows Igali were present at the meeting. Chief Oladipo Olaitan, factional leader of Afenifere and chairman of the forum, read the communiqué, stressing the need for state police to reflect federal principles.

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We also insist on a new Constitution that reflects true federalism and shall mobilise the people to vote for a presidential candidate that will give the people of Nigeria a new Constitution.

Beyond policing, the SMBLF renewed its demand for a new constitution to devolve more powers to federating units and better reflect Nigeria's federal character. They also reaffirmed their position that the presidency should remain in the South following President Bola Tinubu's current term to ensure national cohesion and political stability. The forum expressed concern over the erosion of internal democracy within political parties, criticizing the dominance of party structures by a few individuals during primaries.

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SMBLF reiterates its earlier resolution that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall remain in the southern region in the next four years consequent on the 2027 general elections in the interest of national political stability.