Who are those griping about state police? By Rotimi Fasan

Nigeria's National Assembly has passed a bill to establish state police, a move that has ignited controversy despite previous support for decentralized policing. The author criticizes what he terms "bellyaching" from various quarters, including news anchors, activists, and opposition politicians, who now appear hesitant. These critics are demanding nationwide consultations, a step the author dismisses as a stalling tactic, arguing that such consultations will naturally occur as the bill moves to the state level.

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Everyone from news anchors to activists, not to mention opposition politicians, suddenly started trembling at the lips and appeared to be suffering from something akin to buyer’s remorse in their attempts to be politically correct.

The piece frames the current debate as "analysis paralysis," where the issue is overexamined to the point of inaction. The author asserts that the discussion around state police, similar to broader restructuring debates in Nigeria, has persisted for decades. He believes implementation can proceed without destabilizing the nation, drawing parallels to the current administration's placement of electricity generation on the concurrent list.

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What is playing out is a case of analysis paralysis. Those nagging are overexamining the issue to the point of inaction.

The author further argues that the bill is enabling legislation, not a mandate, allowing interested states to establish their own police forces without constitutional conflict. He notes that not all states will adopt it immediately. He criticizes the zero-sum mentality prevalent in the country, questioning why individuals like Babagana Zulum, who has released individuals deemed "repentant terrorists," would oppose the idea of state police. This opposition is likened to a "dog in the manger" scenario.

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Consultation can be done on the go, and the likes of Dr. Olisa Agbakoba and Dr. Charles Omole are doing their bit.

Recalling the Muhammadu Buhari regime's 1984 halt of a Lagos metro line project, the author suggests a similar "one-way garrison mentality" may be at play. The article concludes by emphasizing that the debate is not inherently ominous but a necessary step in evolving the nation's policing structure, akin to progress in other areas like electricity generation.

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But we are in a country where everything is reduced to a zero-sum game, a place where one man’s progress is immediately seen as a hindrance to another’s.