Seyi Makinde, the Oyo state governor, says the federal government should “stop deceiving Nigerians” on the establishment of state police.
He said it was a waste of everyone’s time for Nigerians to be anticipating the creation of a decentralised police force.
Speaking at the joint mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APM in Ibadan, Makinde recalled how south-west governors initially pushed for state police but settled for the regional security network code-named Amotekun in 2020.
“We wanted state police. It was because we couldn’t get the state police that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” he said.
“They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time.”
He pointed to how the south-west states coordinated through their houses of assembly to legalise Amotekun.
Makinde said Lagos was the only south-west state that refused to establish Amotekun. He claimed this was because President Bola Tinubu objected.
“The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos state, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun,” Makinde said.
He urged the federal government to grant state assemblies the necessary authority, saying state police could be operational “within the shortest possible time” if the political will exists at the subnational level.
Makinde described insecurity as a major pillar of his administration, noting that Amotekun was established early in his tenure after realising full state police powers were not forthcoming.
His statement comes following the mass abduction of pupils, students, and teachers in Oriire LGA.