Kwara speaker to relinquish police security in protest over removal of Saraki’s security detail



Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara state and a sitting senator representing Kwara Central, is not the strongman of Kwara state politics for nothing.

Following the withdrawal of the former governor’s police security detail by the inspector general of police in a move which he believes has to do with his loyalty to the new PDP faction, the Kwara state assembly has reacted.

The assembly resolved on Tuesday that its Speaker, Razak Atunwa, would relinquish the police security attached to him as a form of protest over the withdrawal of Saraki’s police security detail.

The speaker, Atunwa, later addressed the press. He criticised the withdrawal of Saraki’s police security aides and disclosed that he had notified the state police command of his intention to relinquish his.

READ: Police IG Withdraws Security Details Of Gov. Amaechi, Sen. Saraki And Alhaji Baraje

READ: Former Kwara Governor, Saraki, To Sue The Police Over Withdrawal Of Security Details

Atunwa said:”If the Nigeria Police Command does not deem it fit to protect a two-term governor and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, then it is duplicitous to seek to protect a speaker of the state assembly.

“As the speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly that enacted the law, it would be utterly improper for me to sit indolently and do nothing in the face of such flagrant violation of its law.

“Consequently, in addition to the resolutions passed by the assembly today, I, as the Speaker, have notified the Commissioner of Police of the Kwara State that by Friday, 13/09/13, I will relinquish the police security attached to me until such time as the police security of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki is restored.

“By virtue of s.2 (3)Paragraph H of the third schedule of the Kwara State Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law 2010, Senator Bukola Saraki is entitled to the provision of police security as part of his pension entitlements. That was a law validly enacted by the Kwara State House of Assembly.

“It is quite disconcerting and perturbing that the Nigeria Police Command ordered that the police security of the former governor, as provided by law, to be withdrawn. This constitutes a clear breach of the law.

“I am given to understand that the police are themselves compelled to take that action by reasons of, “orders from above”, he said.

kenny987: How can Kwara State enact a law that stipulates police attachment/protection as part of pension entitlements? Is the police State owned? The Nig Police belongs 2 d Fed Govt and is on d Exclusive n not Concurrent list of the Constitution. Unless there is a constitutional change 2 that effect, such law is void ab initio.
In other words Mr Speaker, Kwara HOS, u may protest on other grounds if u deem it necessary but on the ground of the former gov being entitled 2 police aides as part of 'pension benefits', it does not hold water.
Did Kwara hire the police? Apart from other emoluments/allowances or incentives, do u pay their basic salaries? Can u deploy any police officer 2 any other state?