The blunder in not having state police

By Adeleye Kunle

THE non-inclusion of State Police in the Constitution was an error. It was a serious oversight. The lapse occurred 46 years ago, in 1976. Nobody could have predicted 46 years ago that our security challenges would become so severe that we now live in constant fear of terrorists, kidnappers, Boko Haram, ISWAP, political thugs, armed robbers, and others. Who could have predicted that our country would be so mismanaged, to the point where we are experiencing depression and bewilderment as a hound of hell pursues our every step? No one, for sure.

If we really wanted State Police, we could have had it instead of lamenting, bewailing, or grieving. There’s no need to cry over spilt milk. There is no use stressing out over things that have already happened. But, if we truly desired State Police, that oversight should have been corrected by now. Perhaps our security apparatus would have improved as well. Some of us who grew up in this country before Independence, and even during the First Republic, were familiar with the services of AKODA, the regional police and local government native police.

The establishment of regional police was recognized in Section 106 (4) of the 1963 Constitution. “Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, the Commissioner of Police of a Region shall comply with or cause to be complied with the directions of the Premier of the Region or such other Minister of the Government of the Region as may be authorised in that behalf by the Premier with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the Region:”

When it comes to issues like the establishment of state police, we have no choice but to trace how the Presidential Constitution was drafted, with special reference to the founding fathers, no matter how often we do so. They are the architects of our country’s constitution. Especially since our Presidential Constitution was not approved by referendum, plebiscite, initiative, or mandate. General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (March 3, 1924 – July 29, 1966), Nigeria’s first Military Head of State, suspended the 1963 Constitution and, with it, the Regional Police upon taking power on January 1, 1966. General Ironsi issued the Constitution (Suspension and Modification Decree 1966) on January 17, 1966, but it was not published in the official gazette until March 4, 1966. Regional Police were declared dead by the decree.

Even in his speech at Kaduna’s Lugard Hall on April 19, 1967, at a meeting with emirs and chiefs, the then Military Governor of the Northern Region, Lt-Colonel Hassan Usman Katsina (March 31, 1933 – July 24, 1995), emphasized the demise of Regional Police and native authority. On that day, he stated, “One of the main features of the panel’s recommendations was a tighter control of the government’s native courts.” The civilian government accepted the taking over of the native courts in principle, and judging by some of the legislation it had passed since 1958, there is no doubt that it was working towards the goal.” There was no mention of the need for State Police during General Yakubu Gowon’s (87) presidency from 1966 to 1975.

On October 1, 1975, the then-head of state, General Ramat Murtala Mohammed (November 8, 1938 – February 13, 1976), announced the formation of the Constitutional Drafting Committee in his broadcast. Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, QC, SAN (December 16, 1920 – March 26, 2005) led the committee. The committee then divided into seven sub-committees. Dr. Obi Wali (February 27, 1932 – April 26, 1993) chaired the subcommittee on Public Services, which included the Armed Forces and the Police. Alhaji Ahmed Talib, Colonel M. Pedro Martins, Dr. O. Idris, Mr. A. Makele, Alhaji Mamman Daura, and Chief Ekanem Ita were also members of the subcommittee. Alhaji Ahmed Talib was the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Chairman of the New Nigerian Development Bank.

Chief Ekanem Ita, who died on September 3, 2009, was a former Registrar and Secretary to the Council of the University of Ibadan from 1982 to 1994. High Chief Ekanem-Ita attended University College, Ibadan, from 1960 to 1963; Columbia University, New York, U.S.A., from 1971 to 1973; and the University of London Institute of Education, from 1973 to 1977. (1989). He holds a B.A. (Hons) History degree from Ibadan, a Masters Degree from Columbia, a Certificate in University Administration from London, and a Doctor of Literature degree from the University of Calabar.

High Chief Ekanem-Ita was a Rockefeller Foundation, British Council, and government scholar. He started as a Graduate Assistant/Administrative Officer at the University of Ibadan in 1963, was promoted to Assistant/Senior Assistant Registrar (1968-1975), Deputy/Senior Deputy Registrar (1975-1982), and was the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Senate, Congregation, and Convocation from 1982 to 1994. The late High Chief Ekanem-Ita was a member of the American Association for Higher Education in Washington, the Commonwealth Universities Association, the International Association of World Universities, and the International Committee of University Administrators.

He served on the FG/NUC University Administration Review Panels and as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Councils of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (1997-2000) and Cross River State University of Technology (2000-2003). Membership on the Constitution Drafting Committee (1975-76) and the Visitation Panel to Rivers State University of Science and Technology were two other national assignments (1995-1996 and 2005-2006).

The post Not having state police was a mistake appeared first on Track News.