By Chinedu Echianu
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has endorsed the proposed establishment of state police but insisted that governors must have constitutional powers to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police.
The forum said granting governors such powers would ensure that state policing reflects the principles of true federalism, arguing that anything less would amount to establishing a “federal state police” system.
The position was contained in resolutions reached at a general meeting of stakeholders and elder statesmen held at the liaison office of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The SMBLF comprises prominent socio-cultural organisations, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF and the Middle Belt Forum.
The meeting was attended by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah; former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo; National Chairman of PANDEF, Dr Godknows Igali; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, and other leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt regions.
Reading the communiqué, the forum’s chairman and factional leader of Afenifere, Chief Oladipo Olaitan, said the group had consistently advocated state police but stressed that the system must be rooted in true federalism.
“SMBLF welcomes state police, of which we have been advocates over the years, but insists that state police should reflect true federalism and not a Federal State Police system,” Olaitan said.
He added, “To that end, state governors shall have the same power to appoint or remove a Commissioner of Police as the President in relation to the Inspector-General of Police.”
The forum also renewed its call for a new constitution that would devolve more powers to the federating units and better reflect Nigeria’s federal structure.
Olaitan said the group would mobilise Nigerians to support a presidential candidate committed to producing a new constitution.
“We also insist on a new constitution that reflects true federalism and shall mobilise the people to vote for a presidential candidate that will give the people of Nigeria a new Constitution,” he said.
On the 2027 general elections, the regional leaders reaffirmed their position that the presidency should remain in the South after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term.
According to the forum, retaining the presidency in the South for the next four years would promote national political stability and cohesion.
“SMBLF reiterates its earlier resolution that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall remain in the southern region in the next four years consequent on the 2027 general elections in the interest of national political stability,” Olaitan said.
The forum also criticised what it described as the erosion of internal democracy within political parties, particularly the alleged dominance of party structures by a few individuals during ongoing primary elections.
It said the practice of allowing one person or a small group to determine candidates was contrary to democratic principles and national development.
“The essence of democracy is free choice by the people,” the forum said, adding that Nigeria should remain a multi-party constitutional democracy that also permits independent candidacy.
On insecurity, the SMBLF commended the armed forces for what it described as recent successes against criminal elements in parts of the country.
It, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum and intensify security operations in violence-prone areas, particularly across the Middle Belt.
The forum specifically called for renewed efforts in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara and Kogi states, while commending security gains in Oyo, Zamfara and Borno.
“SMBLF also calls on the Federal Government to intensify actions including collaboration with our neighbours and the international community,” Olaitan said.
The forum’s position comes amid ongoing national debate over the proposed establishment of state police as part of the constitutional amendment process before the National Assembly.
While proponents of state policing argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and enable faster responses to local security threats, critics have raised concerns about the possible abuse of state police by governors.
The SMBLF, however, maintained that state policing would only achieve its intended objectives if states were granted genuine constitutional autonomy in line with the principles of true federalism.
