State Policing will improve grassroots security, not intimidate opposition in Abia – Aguocha

The member representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Hon. Obi Aguocha, has defended the proposed State Police bill, saying it is designed to bring security operations closer to communities and improve protection of lives and property in Abia State, rather than serve as a tool for political intimidation.

Speaking on the development in a monitored interview, the lawmaker said Governor Alex Otti, will not use the State Police to intimidate any Abia residents or perceived opposition in the state.

He added that the governor already has the constitutional authority over all security agencies in the state, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, yet he hasn’t used any of them as a tool for intimidation.

He said, “But the good thing about Abia is Dr. Alex Otti has no mean bone in himself to use the state police to intimidate people.

“He already has that authority, so if he hasn’t used the apparatus of the federal government to intimidate people, why then do you think he’s going to use the approaches of the state to intimidate people now?”

The lawmaker argued that the most significant benefit of the reform is bringing police operations to the grassroots.

He said officers who understand the language, culture, and terrain of their communities will be better positioned to gather actionable intelligence.

According to him, “If you bring somebody else from Sokoto to Abia, there’s also a language barrier. And that affects actionable intelligence and that affects relationship,” he said.

“Agai if someone from our own community is in charge of a police operation, he understands our language, knows our own culture, we can communicate to that person and say, these are where the bad people are.”

“A Divisional Police Officer who hails from the state understands the terrain of the state far better than somebody from Zamfara that will come here because traditions and culture also matter in terms of security.”

Addressing public fears that state police could be misused by governors, he said the bill contains safeguards to prevent intimidation and abuse of power.

He noted that the federal government would retain a role to assist states where the command is not performing effectively, but cannot override democratic structures.

“There are safeguards in the bill that ensures that there will be no intimidations. People have wrongly held perception issues that this will be a tool for governor no, it’s not, that is the assurances that I’m giving to our people.

Hon. Aguocha also disclosed that the National Assembly has passed the constitutional amendment, which now requires ratification by state Houses of Assembly. He added that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has endorsed the proposal and that all 36 states are “ready to go.”

“The good news that came out today is that the Governors Forum has endorsed it and said that the 36 states are ready to go. “So it’s just formalities now that maybe within the next week or two, it will go through the state houses of assembly for the ratification. Once it’s being ratified, then the President will endorse it. The President has also shown willingness to endorse it” he said.

He also added that both the House of Representatives and the Senate have supported the bill.

“The state policing is a long-term measure, not just a response to current insecurity.

“Bottom line is that, policing is now coming to the grassroots. It’s now coming to the communities. So that the beneficiaries will be more of the beneficiaries to the good that is coming from state policing,” he maintained.