By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Levinus Nwabughiogu

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday gave his support for the introduction of state police just as he affirmed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has implemented some of the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference

The vice president spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolou Akande in a radio programme. He spoke against differing interpretations of the vice president’s intervention in the ongoing debate about the restructuring of the country.

The vice-president’s assertion that restructuring of the country would not make any difference had recently come under attack by some bodies in the country including Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation.

Clarifying the position of the vice president on the issue of restructuring, Akande in the radio programme on Orange FM in Akure, Ondo State explained that while the Vice President questions whether the allocation of more funds to states from the federal would be helpful at this time considering the dwindling revenues from oil and taxes, he wholly supports the idea of having state police across the country as articulated in the APC’s Roadmap to a New Nigeria. Details of Akande’s clarification on the radio programme made available by the vice-president’s office said Osinbajo desires a deeper debate on the issue of restructuring which he said should not be restricted at the level of resource allocation.

He said the administration has implemented some of the decisions listed in the 2014 Confab report, not because it was in the report but because they were sound decisions. He listed two of such decisions to include the merging of Budget Office with National Planning as one ministry and also the adoption in the 2016 budget of a 60-40% recurrent and capital expenditures.

: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/osinbajo-advocates-introduction-state-police/

Create jobs then crime will reduce try that. Give banks money to loan people to start up factories. Look at things that we can produce in this country yet imported and try to see if you can loan some individuals to start up industries.

K

For once in You and your party's lives you acknowledge the blue prints of the last administration. so the confab report even had important issues arrived at unlike you and your people said initially? But one can't take you guys serious again because you speak from both sides of your mouths every time thereby confusing us always. the other time the presidency said the confab report is meant for the archive as his administration won't do anything with the report. now the vp is saying a different thing all together. APC which way

as suggested by Tinubu?

Oga we no gree... Implementing things in the report your boss threw to the archives? Since they are sound policies, what about resource control? That one na "not sound" policy? Oga behave yourself o. Meanwhile, talking of state police, don't even bring that up because your boss BuBu won't agree cos it's gonna spoil his hidden agenda being carried out by Fulani militia from "Lybia". Stop giving us hope that will be dashed later just like you gave your APC supporters hope during the campaign.

Good thinking in the right direction.

1) It will provide jobs for youths
2 Enable adequate security in states and their locality
3) Issues are tackled faster because the chain of authority is closer unlike getting orders from the centre before carrying out actions
4) Security know-how: security rank and file know the territory unlike transferring a northern to the south (who knows nothing about the region) etc.

All we need to do is to vote state legislators that will act in their oversight function and not kiss the arse of the governors. This will control the excesses of same.

State police is risky!!!!

True Federalism is the solution to Nigeria problem and they are fully aware.

Its a nice way to go as this create few jobs as well but why not tackle the cause of all these crimes....Create jobs and also ensure the environment is conducive for investors and crime rate will reduce drastically

I have said this numerous times. The FG that cannot even maintain its own Federal Secretariat has no business maintaining the police force for all 36 states and the FCT. Let the states police themselves. People will stay in states that are safe while those that are unsafe will have to step up their game to draw people and investments.

Right now, states are reluctant to train police officers because those officers might just be transferred after their training and another state will reap the benefits of the training you paid for.

Oya na

babyfaceafrica:
State police is risky!!!!

How?

The Office of Vice President should be Scrapped!!

Mr Osibaje abi wetin be e name has literally done nothing and he gets paid. Last week, he said restructuring the country will do nothing helpful but because Ambode said State Police is cool...Osibaje too said we should do it.

The problems of this country starts from the Federal Level.

What does he know

state police is an instrument for State Governors to acquire power by all means, we don't need state police in Nigeria

Who pays the police & are they going to function autonomously, coz a criminal in SW might not be seen as one in NE.

Anyway all ds are still working towards cession

restructuring of the country to a true federal region(s) ll be best.

With the IQ of most of our Governors today that will be a calamity !

When States cannot pay mere Salaries of lecturers.

Changing position gradually. Osinbajo is Buhari's henchman for policies he buhari is not comfortable with - name it, subsidy removal, naira floating, negotiations with militants. There is no going back on restructuring. State policing is a good development, it's just the beginning.

To say a fact - Niger delta avengers are doing a fantastic job. Niger delta has been sharing their wealth with the whole Nigeria for decades. Now oil prices are low, and renewed sabotage on pipelines, other regions will be hesitant to share their resources even for a year.

I'm loving Nigeria's federalism with dwindling oil revenue. We must share our collective wealth no matter where it comes from.

As long as Igbo's don't have biafra, no problems

I really think this man has the brains to do sth in this country!

That's my VP

Adekorya:

How?

state governors could use them against national officers...their will be constant clash...with the kind of governors we have....am not so sure!!...imagive give someone like fayose to choose his own police..I fear what will happen

It still doesn't change d bad economy.... Hu em epp sef?

CONFAB recommended it but PMB said it's for the archives and the SGF said it was a boys party.

Lets see how it goes!

our Honourable VP