Pettiness of Nigerian Politicians Won’t Make State Police Efficacious| GOVERNMEND

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Politics and Governance

A critical analysis of Nigeria power structure indicates an obvious concentration of power at the centre. John Dalberg-Acton, 8th Baronet. Posited that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

The Federal government which is at the centre cannot be in control of the Armed Forces, yet refuses to share power within the limitation of the Police Force with states that are more closer to the people.

The Federation of Nigeria ideally should have its power as it is for responsibilities shared among the three levels of government. Sadly, the reverse is the case. Power is domiciled at the centre while the Local government, which is the grassroot government is rendered handicapped due to underfunding. We can argue that, to a large extent, concentration of power at the centre and the monopoly of force by the Federal government has contributed in no small measure to the insecurity Nigeria is confronted with. And a lucid way to look at it is that the Federal government is not close to the governed. And only the man who wears the shoes knows where it pinches. States should have their police, controlled and funded by the individual state.

As interesting as this argument seems, Nigerian politicians would make a mess of state police. The fraca that happened recently between Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma and the former governor of the same state, Rochas Okorocha, involving some of their loyalists shows how state police would be dramatically chaotic. Of course, Rochas Okorocha was wrong to have vandalise a state owned property and invading a sealed property yet Hope Uzodinma swiftness to involve the police only signaled vendetta.

It’s saddening to know that there’s no formula of governance that appears beautiful enough to handle the excesses of Nigerian politicians, to take care of the needs of Nigerian people and to keep the country stabilised.

We can’t continue this way if indeed we want a change. Apparently no public office holder has shown readiness to change, and they would not change until they’re held accountable. Nigeria can’t be governed like a Banana Republic because some horrible leaders find their ways to power by crook.

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