Chief Dipo Oyewole, secretary-general of the Yoruba Council of Elders, has thrown his weight behind the establishment of state police as a critical tool to tackle Nigeria's security challenges. The rescue of students and teachers in Oyo State's Orire local government area has reignited calls for the creation of state-level law enforcement, and Oyewole believes the time has come.
When President Tinubu first proposed state police, the Yoruba Council of Elders backed the idea immediately. Oyewole explained that the council drew inspiration from how security was managed historically in the region and saw long-term value in the proposal.
"We looked beyond the political arguments and focused on its long-term benefits," he told reporters. The council is now pleased that both the President and the National Assembly have embraced the concept.
Critics worry that state governors might abuse state police powers to settle personal scores or consolidate authority. Oyewole acknowledged the legitimate concern but insisted proper safeguards can prevent such abuses.
He stressed that selection of state police commanders must prioritize integrity and professional independence. "Whoever heads a state police command must be a person who cannot easily be influenced or manipulated," Oyewole said.
The operational framework, recruitment process, and administrative structure must all operate under strict legal conditions, he added. Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole's experience offered a positive sign—when he issued an instruction to the conventional police as governor, they didn't comply, demonstrating that professional officers can resist political pressure.
Beyond state police, Oyewole backs the Ooni of Ife's call for communities to revive traditional security methods. He recently visited the Ooni's Palace and observed local security personnel operating effectively at the grassroots level.
"In such communities, strangers are quickly identified because security is rooted in the grassroots," Oyewole noted. Community-based policing has always worked, he insisted, and deserves support.
On Amotekun, the Southwest's regional security initiative, Oyewole pointed to inadequate funding as a major obstacle. While he commended the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for establishing the outfit, he stressed that no security agency can function without proper resources.
Lagos operates the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps instead of Amotekun, but the principle remains identical. "Governors across the Southwest must provide sufficient resources for local security agencies," Oyewole said.
Without adequate funding, insecurity will continue to plague communities regardless of how well-intentioned the security outfit is. He tasked all Southwest governors to commit the necessary resources to make grassroots policing effective.
Oyewole also pushed back against framing Nigeria's problems as religious conflict. The nation's challenges are fundamentally political, he stressed, not rooted in Christian-Muslim tensions.
