State Police: Tinubu lacks moral authority and public trust — PRP

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) rejected President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to create state police through a constitutional amendment, arguing that the federal government lacks the moral authority and public trust to carry out such a sweeping change to Nigeria’s policing system.

While acknowledging the urgent need for reforms to strengthen the country’s security framework, the party said the current administration does not possess the confidence required to lead a fundamental restructuring.

In a statement issued by National Chairman Dr Hakeem Baba‑Ahmed, the PRP contended that the move toward state police comes at a time when public faith in government institutions is eroding.

“The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) is deeply concerned about plans by President Tinubu’s administration to procure State Police through constitutional amendment at a time when its credibility and competence are at an unprecedented low level in our democratic history,” Baba‑Ahmed said.

“Going by precedent and record, this administration will almost certainly secure what is needed to amend the constitution and actualise its desire to establish State Police.”

“While Nigeria needs a major review and overhaul of its security and law and order institutions to address national security and create an environment that should raise citizens’ confidence and faith in leaders and critical institutions, this administration lacks the moral assets and the trust of Nigerians to undertake a major shift in the policing structure of the country,” he added.

The PRP also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for its handling of security matters, calling the state police proposal a “suspicious” scheme that should be rejected.

“The APC administration has failed to manage our security structure and institutions. It’s a plan to engineer the emergence of State Police is suspicious, and it should be rejected,” Baba‑Ahmed said.

Furthermore, the party urged Nigerians to view the upcoming general election as a decisive democratic test before the country embarks on major constitutional and institutional reforms.

“The forthcoming election should be a threshold which should be crossed with credibility and popular acclaim before the nation decides on important issues such as state police structures,” Baba‑Ahmed said.

The PRP concluded that the current administration should focus instead on improving security and protecting citizens across the nation.