Two prominent leaders in Lagos State, Chief Tajudeen Olusi and Mr Gbolahan Yishawu have declared strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s push for establishment of State Police.
By Esenvosa Izah
Two prominent leaders in Lagos State, Chief Tajudeen Olusi and Mr Gbolahan Yishawu have declared strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s push for establishment of State Police.
Olusi is the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council of Lagos State and Yishawu is a member of the state House of Assembly, representing Eti-Osa Constituency II.
They described state policing as a vital step in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President to tackle insecurity and deepen true federalism.
The duo disclosed this at the 10th constituency stakeholder’s meeting organised by the Lagos state house of assembly on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Tinubu on Wednesday, restated that establishment of state police remained unavoidable, if Nigeria must overcome insecurity.
The President’s declaration came as Northern elders urged him to declare a state of emergency in the North, following protracted insecurity that had devastated the socio-economic life and development of the region.
The constituency meeting, which held simultaneously across the 40 constituencies of the state, has “Governance in Action: The Gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda” as its theme.
Olusi said that security remained the foundation of national stability, adding that governors must be directly involved in protecting lives and property.
According to him, Tinubu’s call for state policing reflects a return to Nigeria’s earlier system of Native Authority police, which provided community-based security.
“Security is very important; If you are not secure, you cannot sleep well or live freely in your homes; that is why the president is urging governors to take necessary steps.
“There must be police presence at local government areas and ward levels to gather intelligence and act swiftly.
“State policing is not new—it is a revival of what worked for us in the past, and it will benefit all Nigerians,” Olusi said.
Yishawu praised the President for decentralising governance.
The lawmaker noted that devolution of power in critical sectors like electricity and transport had already yielded progress.
He said, therefore, that policing should also be devolved to make security more effective.
“In true federalism, states should be the drivers of key policies; just as devolving power generation has brought electricity closer to the people, devolving policing will help us fight insecurity more effectively.
“Yes, there will be challenges but state police is the right way to go. Under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I believe it is not just possible, it is achievable,” Yishawu said.
The lawmaker added that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is about reshaping governance to bring solutions closer to the people.
“We can always amend the constitution to reflect the realities of our time; hope drives change and with hope, we can build a safer, stronger nation,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)