The Southern and Middlebelt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has reiterated the call for state policing as a panacea to halting incessant attacks in the country.
The group, led by Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Afenifere (a Yoruba socio-cultural group), made the call on Tuesday in Jos, when it paid a courtesy visit to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, following bandits attacks and the governor’s victory at the Supreme Court.
While congratulating Mr Mutfwang, the group urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, push for the enactment of legislation that would establish state police.
“We want to call on the president to say no to oppression; enough is enough; he has a chance now to stop the oppression of people by terrorists parading under titles and wreaking havoc on innocent dwellers in their communities.
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“The president comes from a stock of people who are serious about making progress and keeping this country together; he needs to change the constitution to a Federal Autonomous Regional Federation; let us take care of our security from our revenue. How can a man say he can take care of my house better than myself?” Mr Adebanjo wondered.
Mr Adebanjo urged President Bola Tinubu to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous attacks on Barkin-Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu, and other local government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Mr Mutfwang celebrated the group and assured the members that he would execute his mandate of ensuring that life was good for all citizens of Plateau.
“We will do our best to ensure that our people are not killed like animals; we will do our best to ensure that our people enjoy the land that God has given them in peace; this is a mandate we have sworn to pursue, God helping us we will do that,” he said.
The governor also appreciated Mr Tinubu for not interfering with the ruling, saying it was worth commending.
“The temptation of any leader, particularly in Africa, to interfere in the polity is very high, and when the president exercised restraint, I think we should commend him, so we will continue to do so,” Mr Mutfwang added.
Some members who made the SMBLF delegation included Pogu Bitrus and Gen. Zamani Lekwot, representing the Igbo, Calabar and Rivers leaders.
