Former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope says the clamour for restructuring and state police must be revisited as the National Assembly seeks to amend the constitution.
Recall that Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila had said during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) virtual conference that constitutional and electoral reforms were currently receiving priority attention in the 9th National Assembly.
According to him, the House Committee on Constitution Amendment headed by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase would commence work immediately after the House reconvened on September 15 from its two-month annual recess.
Babatope said that restructuring of the federation must be accorded priority because of its importance to resolving many of the challenges currently bedevilling the nation.
The former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) further noted that fears that state governors would misuse state police if created were unjustified.
Backing state police, Babatope said Nigeria would continue to waste its time by expecting security while not localising the police force.
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“People have been talking about state police for a long time. Until we ensure that we put security in the hands of those who know about it, we will be wasting our time.
“For example, if we have state police, it doesn’t remove from the national police. But what is important is that the state police will be able to know those who are involved in criminal activities in their areas, and they will be able to ensure that we get to the root of insecurity and injustice in this country.
“We run a federation in this country. Those who are talking about state police, they know what they are talking about,” he stated.
On the call for restructuring, Babatope said it was non-negotiable.
“I am for restructuring. Simply put, restructuring is redefinition, reaffirment of the federal nature of our country’s existence.
“We run a federalism in this country for goodness sake and we should reaffirm it, redefine it, to ensure it takes precedence over every other matter.
“When we are restructuring, we are aiming at justice. That will give confidence to people that they are in a country where their rights are being respected. And where they are given all the opportunities to ensure that we run a proper federalism.
“Those who are are calling for restructuring, they know what they are talking about.
“Restructuring, pure and simple is the redefinition of the federal nature of our country’s existence. We affirm our federation, we affirm our federalism and we ensure that we put power in the hands of those who really want to make something out of it. It is not debatable. It will solve all our problems. These killings will stop,” Babatope told Sunday Sun.