State Police: Don’t Rush to Avoid Creating More Problems — Primate Ayodele Warns Tinubu

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has warned President Bola Tinubu’s administration against rushing the establishment of state police, arguing that the arrangement could create additional security and political challenges for the country.

Ayodele, through one of his media aides, Kehinde Balogun, expressed concern that state policing could become an instrument for political manipulation if adequate safeguards were not established.

The cleric argued that politicians might use state-controlled police structures to pursue personal and political interests rather than protect residents and maintain public safety.

“State policing will not help Nigeria; it will rather worsen our woes. Politicians will use it as a weapon to realise selfish agenda,” he warned.

He urged the Federal Government to reconsider the proposal and prioritise measures that would address the country’s existing security challenges.

Ayodele’s warning came amid renewed national discussions about decentralising policing in Nigeria, with proponents arguing that state police could improve local intelligence gathering, strengthen community security and enable faster responses to criminal activities.

Supporters of the proposal have also argued that a centralised police structure faces limitations in responding effectively to security threats across Nigeria’s diverse regions.

However, concerns have been raised about the possibility of state governors abusing control over local police formations, particularly in states where political opposition and civil liberties could be affected.

The debate has therefore focused on the need for constitutional safeguards, independent oversight, professional standards and clear accountability mechanisms to prevent political interference.

Beyond state policing, Ayodele called on the Tinubu administration to address economic hardship, improve electricity supply and take urgent steps to reduce the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

He warned that worsening economic conditions could generate public frustration and protests if the government failed to respond adequately to citizens’ concerns.

The cleric maintained that the government should prioritise policies that improve living conditions and strengthen national stability rather than introduce reforms without sufficient consideration of their possible consequences.

His comments add to the wider debate over the future of policing in Nigeria and the balance between centralised security coordination and local policing responsibilities.