…Seek decentralization of police
…Donate N10m to Salome Abuh foundation
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have attributed the high level of insecurity in most states in the country to fact that they (the states’ governors) are helpless
when it comes to the control of police among other security organs, lamenting that such was not helping matters.
Towards this end, the PDP elected Governors have reiterated their call for the rejigging of the security architecture of the country in such a way that policing can be decentralized.
The PDP Governors spoke yesterday in Abuja during the 2nd year remembrance/candle light held in honour of Hon. Salome Acheju Abuh, the PDP Woman Leader who was burnt alive during the Kogi State governorship election in 2019.
The PDP Governors, who spoke through the Director-General of their Forum, Hon. CID Maduabum, noted with regrets that there was little or nothing they can do as the security architecture in states is such that governors are powerless to act.
The PDP Governors, who donated N10 million to the Salome Acheju Abuh Foundation that was also launched yesterday in Abuja, noted with sadness that State Governors don’t even have control over Divisional Police Officer (DPO) talk less of Commissioner of Police.
The PDP Governors said, “Yes, we have state governors who can do their bit, but the security architecture is such that governors are powerless to act.
“You cannot command a DPO as a governor, they will tell you that they have to talk to their commissioners of Police. If you talk to the Commissioner of Police, he will tell you that he will get permission from the IG (Inspector General of Police)
“From that, they will say that they will get permission from the Minister of Police Affairs or the President.
“Before you finish, crimes have already been committed.
“The PDP governors have repeatedly called for the rejigging of the security architecture of the country in such a way that policing can be decentralized.
“But of course, there must be proper safeguards because if you have some governors that promote violence, then it is also very dangerous to leave such security in their hands.
“We believe that there should be proper checks and balances to ensure that security prevails in Nigeria”, they said.
Speaking about yesterday’s event, the PDP Governors said, “We decided to show presence here because we feel that the impunity as represented by the event that we are commemorating today has continued.
“It has continued because there is no serious response by the government in power to tackle impunity.
“Impunity is perhaps the greatest problem we have in Nigeria. It is because if impunity that we have rampant corruption, because you can do anything and get away with it.
“Impunity has led to massive bloodshed on a daily bases in Nigeria. People are killed wantonly, people are killed whimsically.
“Impunity leads to all sorts of things. Her blood cries to heaven for vengeance because the mastermind has not been brought to book.
“Those who promoted the atmosphere of violence, those who think that they are God on earth and can do anything they like and get away with it, they have not been brought to book. And that is why the country is where it is today.
“If the death of Salome has been taken care of, if the masterminds have been taken care of, if those who promoted tatata (referring to gun shots) in Kogi have been been taken care of. That is why we have rampant kidnappings, that is why we have rampant banditry, terrorism, the country is no doubt a failed state under the current government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The bucks stops at the table of the President”, they said.
Also speaking at the event, the widower of Mrs Salome Acheju Abuh, Elder Simeon Abuh expressed sadness that during the court judgment delivered at the High Court of Justice, Idah, Kogi State on the 23rd March 2021 only one person, Ocholl Edicha, was arraigned and found guilty of five count charges with regard to the “burning to death of my late wife, and burning down of our four (4) fully furnished houses”
Elder Abuh wondered how possible it is for one person to commit such magnitude of destructions of life and properties “in our compound and other key PDP stakeholders houses in the community within such a few hours”.
His words, “Kogi State Police Command paraded six boys, including Ocholi Edicha who were said to have confessed to the crime. Surprisingly, five were charged for armed robbery and only Ocholi Edicha became the murderer and arsonist. Police is OUR Friend, Police is THEIR Friend”, he said.
Among those who graced the event were; former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 election in Kogi, Engr Musa Wada and Elder Gabriel Yakubu Adukwu, former Minister of State for Health among others.
