Why Nigeria Needs State Police - Obasanjo

Obasanjo while talking on restructuring, noted that there is the need for the devolution of powers, responsibilities, and resources to allow for healthy competition among states.

The ex-president stated this while speaking during a virtual interview hosted by a historian and columnist, Toyin Falola.

Obasanjo who had earlier rejected the calls for state police, however, said, supported a statement credited to the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, that the country would know no peace until it instituted state police.

He said, "Why can't we now have state police? I have been to a country like Colombia, in the last five years, at least a dozen times. They did exactly what we did. They moved from local and state police to national police. But now, they have gone back to state police or provincial police. Why can't we do that? If we do that, there will be no need for Amotekun.ÔÇØ

"I was watching the governor of Taraba not too long ago. He was saying Nigeria will have no peace and security until we have state police. I believe that the time has come when we should talk of state police and allow it to be. The governor of Taraba said the national police have been overwhelmed, and I believe he is right.ÔÇØ

"There will still be the need for federal police to look after federal territories and what I call major entry points - international airports and international seaports. The Federal Government can have mobile police and station them in strategic places, and only deployed when the state governor requires for it.ÔÇØ

He condemned the Federal Government for meddling in issues relating to secondary schools and agriculture, he said such responsibilities should be given to states.

Former President when asked about his successor, late President Musa Yar'adua, said he knew the medical history of the deceased before he supported his presidential ambition.

He noted that the late Yar'adua was certified fit by a medical doctor who saw his medical records.

He said, "Let me tell you the story of Umaru Yar'adua. I knew he was ill and before I put him forward, I asked for his medical report which he sent to me and I sent it to one of the best doctors of our time and a good friend of mine who died only last year -Professor Akinkugbe.

"I said look at it because it is confidential and he said to me that from this report, this man has had a kidney transplant and it is successful, he is no longer under dialysis.

"And if you have a kidney transplant and it is successful, it is as good as if you didn't have a kidney transplant at all. I accepted that and Umaru Yar'adua contested within the party and he contested within the country and came up.

"In the process of the campaign, I remember that he had to go for a medical checkup abroad and he was not around for a campaign here in Abeokuta.

"I called him because the rumour was that he had died. I called him on my telephone and put it on speaker. I said, 'Umaru, are you dead or alive?' and he said, 'I am not dead, I am alive'.

"Within a couple of days, he came back and reported that he was checked up and he was well. That was the position of Umaru Yar'adua and if anybody in his right sense will think that what I have done in that position was not right, I leave him in the hands of God.ÔÇØ