ADC accuses Tinubu of rushing state police bill to mask security failures
ADC accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of rushing the State Police Bill through National Assembly to create the appearance of tackling Nigeria's worsening insecurity, calling it a 'panicky' and politically driven move rather than thoughtful reform. In a Friday statement by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said while it supports state policing in principle, the timing - almost at the end of Tinubu's term - raises doubts about genuine commitment.
The ADC argued the bill is being marketed as a bold new initiative when it's actually a long-standing national consensus, pushed through without sufficient public consultation. Crucially, the party warned that passing legislation alone won't solve banditry, kidnapping and terrorism, emphasizing that proper implementation requires building entire systems: recruitment, training, funding, command structures, intelligence coordination, judicial oversight and correctional reforms - none of which can be established overnight.
This criticism raises important questions for Nigerians: Is the administration genuinely pursuing security reform, or using legislation as a distraction from worsening insecurity? If state police requires extensive groundwork to be effective, what specific preparations are actually underway beyond the legislative push? Citizens should scrutinize whether this addresses root causes or merely creates new security structures without fixing foundational issues.