Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has criticised what he described as the Federal Government’s slow approach toward implementing state police, insisting that state legislatures should be empowered to establish and manage their own policing structures.
Makinde made the remarks on Thursday during the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly primaries organised by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan.
The governor argued that if the Federal Government was genuinely committed to state policing, the process should not be controlled solely by the Inspector-General of Police, but rather driven through state institutions.
According to him, state Houses of Assembly should be granted the authority and necessary support to establish local policing systems that can address security challenges more effectively.
His comments followed the recent abduction of teachers and students from three schools in Ori-Ire Local Government Area, an incident he described as painful and disturbing.
Makinde said the worsening security situation across the country underscores the need for decentralised policing, stressing that local security structures are better positioned to respond quickly to threats.
“This is a difficult period for me personally and for Oyo State, but security has remained one of the major pillars of this administration since Omituntun 1.0 and continues to be a priority,” he said.
The governor noted that before his administration came into office, Oyo had no local security outfit like Amotekun, adding that the state established the corps as an alternative after calls for state police failed to materialise.
He also appreciated residents for their support for his administration and political structure, assuring them that the Omituntun agenda would continue beyond his tenure.
Makinde expressed optimism that future phases of the programme would deliver greater benefits to residents of the state.
