They contended that state police will destroy Nigeria’s
democracy, weaken and intimidate opposition voices.

In their different statements issued in Calabar on Thursday,
they said state police will spell doom for the country even as autonomy of
local government areas and state electoral commissions have been rendered
impotent.

Chairman of PDP in Cross River State, Vena Ikem wondered
what information is available to the President to convince him that Nigeria
needs State Police presently, adding that the move will bury democracy.

“If we want to destroy the little we still have as a
semblance of democracy, let us go ahead.

“If he wants to test the state police, I wish him luck but
that will spell doom for this Republic. We’ll be here to remind us when it
happens.

“We tested it with State Electoral commissions and it has
proven to be a disaster.

“This President attempted to implement the constitutionally
guaranteed autonomy of Local Governments, including the robust interpretation
of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to that effect and has
been frustrated by the governors as the Local Government administrations remain
comatose under the frustration of the governors,” he said.

On their part, Dr Effiong Nyong, deputy national publicity
Secretary of ADC, said the administration of President Tinubu is not sincere
about the state police.

The ADC recalled that during the administration of former
president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, it was the current president who was more
vocal about security issues, blaming Jonathan’s administration and describing
it as clueless.

According to the ADC, Tinubu’s administration has gone quiet
since his party, APC, took over in 2015 , even as he, too, took over power in
2023, with the security situation becoming worse.

ADC further viewed that Tinubu’s extension of the tenure of
the Inspector General of Police was another indication that he was not really
serious about security in the country.

The ADC expressed worry that despite humongous monthly
allocations to states in recent times, security crises have rather aggravated.

“The government is quick to lament the lack of funds, but
even with the funds fallout from the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, it has been
more cash to state governments with little attention to security matters.

“It is clear that the government is either not interested or
lacks the will to address the security matter,” he added.