Prominent Nigerian politician, Buba Galadima has said the introduction of state police in Nigeria will see the end of democracy in the country as citizens with contrary political views to that of their state governors will be massively hounded.
Galadima was a guest on ARISE News and said the emirs and local chiefs will be more lenient than state governors in the way and manner native police or state police will be used.
“There is a reason why the native police or state police was disbanded, I want to tell you and want the nation know that the emirs and chiefs that had native authority police are more humane than our present governors.
“If some of you make the mistake of having state police, let me tell you that this is the end of democracy in Nigeria, because people like me or you may never have the privilege to visit your state if you have a different opinion from the governors in those states.
“Even without state police, they used the national police to intimidate, harras to maim and lock up opponents if now these people are under their control, only God may save us,” Galadima said.
Galadima was of the view that electing leaders to govern Nigeria should be anchored on good governance rather than zoning.
He was reacting to moves by prominent Nigerians who are making nationwide consultation to ensure that political parties, especially the major ones like, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) field southern presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 elections.
Their concern is to make sure that the South – any of South-south, South-west, and South-east, produces the next president of the country in order to continue to sustain the unity of the country and douse the current burning political tension.
“If anybody can provide me security, economic prosperity, build roads, infrastructure, take my children to school, provide health services, why do I have to look for another Abubakar or Muhammed, or whoever, the issue is good governance,” said Galadima.
“Let all of us Nigerians come out and address the issue of good governance as they have done in Malaysia. What is the basic minimum that our communities need that our country needs, let’s agree on all those issues and whoever we put forward as our choice must work by what we have designed to make Nigeria look like in the four years that he’s going to be in power,” said Galadima who was once a confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari.
By Abel Ejikeme