How to Restructure Police for Effective Security By Adewole Adebayo, SDP Presidential Hopeful
The social democratic party presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo has promised to put the right architecture in place to tackle the issue of insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking at an interactive session with The Compatriots, on Friday February 3 in Abuja, Prince Adewole said in the Nigeria Police Force, his party will make sure the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Police division will be people who are almost the same rank of a deputy commissioner so that they can take decisive actions at their levels.
The meeting was an interactive session with THE COMPATRIOTS and the other top presidential candidates.
He noted that the commissioner of police should have all operational powers to the inspector general of police, so that all matters can end in the state and they can relate better with the state.
Prince Adewole said, “One, even though we abolish the native authority, the DPO’s in Police division will be people who are almost the rank of deputy commissioner so that at the level of the division, they can take decisive actions. There’s enough seniority there to take decisions over serious issues.
“When it comes to the state, if they don’t amend the constitution, I’ll see that except for staff duties, the commissioner of police should have all operational powers to the inspector general of police, so that all matters can end in the state and they can relate better with the state”.
He noted that as Nigeria’s commander in chief, he will have a clear appreciation of the situation of the country in order to know how to address the issues at hand.
“The most important thing is that before you enter that office, you need the minimum about of knowledge that is residence in your head about the situation. So when you’re getting briefing and you’re nodding your head, you know the one which is false, over exaggerated, you know the one which is right. But if you go there and you are waiting for someone to tell you, there is a problem”.
He added that sometimes a different architecture is needed to achieve a different result.
Prince Adewole further stated that his party will do things to restore the armed forces because the when the armed forces are in order, services will be in order as well.
“A lot of things will be done and see that that army is restored, once the armed forces are in order, the services will be order as well”, he said.
He noted that his government will create devolution in the police force.
Prince Adewole while speaking on the judiciary, he advised that the court can be advised by The Compatriots on what to do, so that politicians would allow the judiciary serve the people.
Speaking on behalf of the Compatriots, Obong Victor Attah said the purpose of meeting with the presidential candidates was to discuss on how to get Nigeria to become a better nation, hence the campaigns of political candidates should reflect that.
He said, “The Compatriots requested to meet with you, our top political leaders, to discuss the Nation from a non-partisan perspective. Irrespective of personal partisan preferences, we all want a better Nigeria”.
“We believe that it is of mutual interest to your campaigns and our objectives that Nigerians understand that while there are differences of opinion on how to get Nigeria to become a better nation, there is alignment on what a successful nation looks like. We believe that this private collaborative meeting will elevate the perception of Nigerians about our collective commitment to a better future for them”, he added.
The Compatriots is a group of well-meaning and eminent Nigerians, cutting across regional, ethnic, religious, ideological and political affiliations who have decided to come together to midwife an initiative aimed at promoting national cohesion, good governance, peace and prosperity.
They promote a network of concerned Nigerians towards assisting in the improvement of governance at all levels as well as in the provision of social services.
Other presidential candidates present at the session were Datti Ahmed – LP Vice presidential candidate representing Peter Obi, Kola Abiola – PRP and Boni Haruna – representing Atiku Abubakar of PDP.
The members of SDP presidential campaign team present were: Khadijat Okunnu – Deputy APCO DG, Chief Godwin Osigbeme – Director of protocol and Pst Ade Alabi.
Members of The Compatriot present were : HE Obong Victor Attah – Chairman , Malam Hakeem Baba-Ahmed – Deputy Chairman , Prince Tom Iseghohi – Chief Operating Officer, Hajiya Inna Chiroma , Rev Bitrus Dangiwa, Dr. Enyantu Ifene ,General Zamani Lekwot rtd, General Saleh Maina rtd, Mrs Nella Andem- Ewa Rabana SAN, FCI Arb, Chief Simon Okeke .