The Number Two Citizen in Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, is not known for loose talks. The Vice-President virtually weighs his words on the scale before uttering them. Now, he has spoken out in support of the calls for the decentralization of the Nigeria Police.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the summit on national security organised by the Senate on the spate of killings by herdsmen and other crimes across the country, Prof. Osinbajo made it clear that the time has come for the country to adopt State Police system.
He debunked claims that President Muhammadu Buhari is doing little or nothing to check the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen due to his Fulani origin. The Vice-President said, “I was in Dong village in Adamawa where herdsmen had attacked the village and killed many but the vicious killing of Fulani villagers also in Adamawa state is worthy of mention.
Prof. Osinbajo, who is also a legal luminary, expatiated further, “Let me preface this by saying that every Nigerian is entitled to adequate security from government for their lives and livelihood.
The Number Two leader argued that the size of Nigeria makes it difficult to expect the central government in Abuja to effectively police the country. He noted that the security lapses experienced so far in the present administration were not deliberate and pointed out that adopting the system of allowing each state to control its own policing structure will reduce the lapses.
According to him, “We believe that where cattle are sedentary it would improve the productivity of cattle. The federal government cannot dictate to states what to do with their land this is so because the Land Use Act of 1978 put lands under the control of governors.”
Many observers at the forum pointed out that Vice-President Osinbajo’s remarks were neither tainted by politics, party affiliation or religion. He was simply being himself.
