A former member of the House of Representatives from Abia State, Nze Chikwem Esiaga, on Saturday, kicked against the call for the establishment of the state police in Nigeria.
The federal and state governments are currently mulling the establishment of state police in a bid to combat the lingering security crisis in the country.
The move followed the recent surge in the activities of the daredevil bandits and other criminal elements causing mayhem in the country.
But in an opinion shared Saturday morning through a statement, Esiaga recommended the establishment of local government police instead, which will be under the control of duly elected council chairmen in all federating states.
The ex-lawmaker insisted that the state police would serve as a tool in the hands of state governors for the victimization of perceived opponents who are opposed to their draconian policies and programmes.
He partly said: “Until LGA elections are conducted by INEC throughout the federation, the allocations will never be accounted for.
“The governors who have turned out to be emperors of their various states will never allow the 3rd tier of government to function effectively.
“Until we get it right at the LGA level, this high level of insecurity and chaotic economic situation in Nigeria will remain with us”.
“Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a tree cannot and I repeat cannot make a forest in the presence of these vipers who do not account for the security votes and LG allocations which they grab from the centre.
“This reminds me of the clamour for state police which will end up like the State Independent Electoral Commission.
“The way to go is LG police to be under the duly elected council chairmen else governors will use state police to deal ruthlessly with their perceived political opponents as was the case in the 1st republic”.