(Godswill Akpabio. Photo by Daily Post)
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned Nigerian governors not to abuse state police once it is established, cautioning that those who create the institution must also be prepared to be held accountable by it long after leaving office.
Akpabio issued the warning during plenary on Tuesday as the National Assembly moved towards approving the state police bill, following a Constitution Alteration Bill transmitted to the legislature by President Bola Tinubu seeking its establishment.
The Senate subsequently scheduled Wednesday for the passage of the bill.
The Senate President noted that the establishment of state police marks a historic turning point for Nigeria, describing it as the first time since independence in 1960 that the country has had the courage to decentralise its police force.
“Many of us like to go back home after we are through here, without being afraid of the state police.
Even the current governors will one day leave office, they should not not be afraid of the state police they created,” he said.
Akpabio added that the process would be carried out in two phases first through a constitutional alteration, and subsequently through an Act of Parliament that would spell out the modalities for the operation of state police and include safeguards against potential abuses.
