By Christy Anyanwu
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, recently came out strongly in support of state police, calling on the Federal Government, the National Assembly, state governors and houses of assembly to take urgent action that would give the nation state police, end the security challenges around the country and save the country from collapse.
In this interview, he also talked about the economy and controversies around his relationship with Yoruba Nation advocate, Sunday Igboho.
You have always been an advocate for state police in Nigeria and it is currently a hot topic, but some people against it insist that state governors would misuse or abuse it. How do you view this concern?
As some of the participants in the recent conference mentioned, state police is an idea that has come to stay, and it’s non-negotiable. The system of government we are running now was borrowed from the United States, where they have state police, sheriffs and county police. It’s unreasonable for people to create fear and use excuses over the past 20 years, arguing that governors will misuse state police. This fear-mongering continues to breed insecurity, which is destroying Nigeria, hurting our economy and damaging our national image. Yet, some continue to claim that governors will misuse state police, when the real focus should be on protecting lives and property. Is it really likely that a state police officer, who is a citizen of the state, would follow an order from a governor to harm their own people? Would Nigeria be the first multi-ethnic country with state police? No. Considering Nigeria’s large population, it does not make sense to have just one centralised police force. Countries with populations under four million might manage with one police force, but not a country like Nigeria. Even South Africa, with fewer than 100 million citizens, has both state and federal police. So, why are we pretending that a single police force is enough for Nigeria? Why are we deceiving ourselves and risking the stability of our country by refusing to implement state police?
Would you say the security challenges are touching everybody in the country?
The ongoing insecurity discourages people in the Diaspora from returning home due to safety concerns. Those who would bring foreign currency to invest in the country or build beautiful houses to enhance our environment are too scared to come back. In December, the Southeasterners or the Igbo typically work until November and then return to their villages in the Southeast for rest. It’s been a tradition for years that, around the 17th to 18th of December, they start travelling to their hometowns. However, over the last three years, many Igbo have stopped travelling because of insecurity. They now celebrate Christmas and New Year in Lagos and other cities. Even people who used to travel by vehicle from Lagos to Benin City and Warri now opt for flights, which is more expensive because of the risks on the road. The journey from Lagos to Benin, which used to take three and a half hours, now requires an airfare of about ₦300,000 for a round trip. I recently returned from Warri, and the economy class flight cost about ₦360,000 for a round trip, approximately ₦180,000 per leg. The reason people are flying is because of the insecurity on the roads. Otherwise, we would have driven in my vehicle, enjoying the trip, buying things along the way, especially around Benin-Ore. We used to visit friends in Benin and enjoy the historical city before heading for Warri, but now that’s not possible due to safety concerns.
Insecurity has affected different aspects of life in the country, including road travel. How would state police correct this, given that most highways are federal, interstate routes?
When we talk about security, before even considering political influence, we need to first focus on safety. The government’s primary responsibility is to protect life and property. However, the way things are in Nigeria, about 70 to 80 per cent of people feel unsafe. This sense of insecurity extends to simple activities like driving from one place to another. There’s always fear that something bad could happen at any moment, posing a risk to both you and your property. The situation is even worse at night. These days, if you are travelling from one state to another after 8:00 p.m., you could be on the road for up to five minutes without seeing another vehicle. In some cases, it might take up to 15 minutes before another car passes by. This scenario often applies to remote roads in the Southwest of Nigeria, which is considered safer than other regions. You might notice that the only vehicles out at that time are those driven by people who are not afraid of armed robbery or other threats on the highway. Luxurious buses often travel with security, but smaller cars without escorts face significant risks. In the Southwest, after 8:00p.m., there are only a few vehicles on the road because people are afraid to drive at night. This can extend through the night to 6:00a.m., with private cars typically not travelling without security personnel or military escorts. All this is because of insecurity. In some communities in the Southwest that used to be lively, where activities were vibrant until late at night, sometimes up to 2:00a.m, now those same places are shutting down by 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. Economically, the community becomes stagnant. In Lagos, for instance, the only places that are still busy by 11:00p.m. are Victoria Island and parts of Ikoyi. Even in the centre of Lagos, like the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, things are quieting down. Growing up, I lived on Cole Street in Surulere, where you could go to Ojuelegba by 3:00a.m and it would still feel like afternoon. Nightlife continued on Ogunlana Drive, Adeniran Ogunsanya ,and other parts of Ikeja until about 6:00a.m. But now, people are wary of staying out late due to safety concerns. This insecurity has affected how much time people spend outdoors, which has also impacted business activities. If you look at what’s happening in other regions, the Middle Belt, for example, travelling to the North now requires armed security. Only trailers and luxurious buses go to the North because they have security. The Middle Belt, once known as Nigeria’s food basket, is now so insecure that if you transport food items from there to Lagos, you need extraordinary security. Consider the situation in Plateau and Benue states, where insecurity is a major concern. Even familiar routes like the road from Ondo to Kabba, which used to take less than an hour, people now face frequent kidnappings despite police checkpoints. The same goes for the route from Lokoja to Abuja, kidnappings occur during the day and at night. As a result, people are forced to travel by air, but flight prices are now outrageous. A round trip from Lagos to Abuja costs about ₦400,000. Though road travel is cheaper, it’s too risky. People are asking for alternatives to the police, which doesn’t mean reducing the power and influence of the federal police. In the past, if I wanted to go to my hometown in Arigidi, we would leave Surulere by 8:00p.m., even without dualized roads. We would travel with four vehicles and arrive at 3:00 a.m., and by the time people woke up we were already there, safe and sound, because the roads were secure. The crime rate was much lower then. Now, the situation is drastically different. Insecurity is a big issue, which is why we need state police.
There are paramilitary agencies, vigilance groups and outfits similar to state police, why has insecurity still not reduced?
Let me give you a very good example from Oyo State. There was serious insecurity in Oyo State, but with the establishment of Amotekun, a regional security outfit, the security threat in both Oyo and Ondo states has decreased significantly. It was as high as 100 per cent, but now it has reduced to around 40 per cent. If the Federal Government and parliament agree on state police, and Amotekun is equipped with modern firearms like AK-47 to protect the people, the level of insecurity could drop even further, possibly to 10 or five perncent. When the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps was being created, there was a lot of opposition. I remember that the first Commander-General of the Civil Defence Corps, before his appointment, faced rumours about his selection, and he was ambushed in Plateau State,almost losing his life. However, President Olusegun Obasanjo was determined to establish civil defence for specific purposes, and now the Civil Defence Corps plays a crucial role in maintaining safety. Similarly, when the Federal Road Safety Corps was about to be created, the police opposed it, claiming they already had their own traffic warden department, so there was no need for a separate road safety body. But (Gen. Ibrahim) Babangida’s government created the Road Safety Corps, which now plays an essential role in managing traffic and reducing accidents.
How would the states fund their own police units?
State police can create job opportunities for people within the state. It is relatively easy for any governor to form state police. In Lagos, for example, there’s a security trust fund that generates revenue to address security issues. Lagos State earns billions of naira through this trust fund, with multinationals and factories contributing. Even in states with fewer investors, the governor can collect a small tax, perhaps ₦2,000 to ₦3,000 per person, and put it into this trust fund. Small businesses could also be taxed to support the fund. This money could be used to run the state police, reducing reliance on federal funding. By contributing to a security trust fund, citizens can help improve safety in their own states. For example, if a state has a workforce of 10,000 people, a deduction of ₦2,000 from each person’s salary could significantly contribute to the fund. Hotels and other businesses would also contribute to the fund, creating a sustainable way to finance state police. With these funds, we can create a more secure environment, ensuring that people can travel safely without fear.
Let’s talk about Dangote’s reduction of fuel prices. What do you think about this development?
The issue of Dangote reducing the price of diesel is a good reason for the government to privatize many of its ministries. When transiting to the private sector, there must be agreements that ensure continued employment for civil servants. The goal should be to make these ministries economically viable while providing a certain percentage of the revenue back to the government. This would free up funds that are currently tied to government-run ministries, allowing for more efficient use of resources.
Ministries are different from refineries; if the government should hand over the oil and gas industry to the private sector how would that turn out?
Privatization could help bring accountability and transparency to certain sectors. When the private sector is involved, there is often more oversight, which can lead to better outcomes. The goal should be to create a system where money is tracked, and there is a clear understanding of how funds are generated and used. This will ultimately contribute to a more stable economy and a higher level of public trust in the government’s financial systems.
Nigeria has travelled the privatization road before; how do you think it will change things now?
Privatization can bring efficiency, generate income, and establish a higher standard, especially in the aviation sector. The same approach should be applied to seaports. When you visit seaports, much of the infrastructure is the same as it was in the 1970s, despite the daily revenue they generate. Railways could also benefit from privatization to improve their structure and services. However, the private sector’s approach to railways has been worse than when the government managed them, showing that not all privatization lead to better outcomes. A good example of successful privatization is the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Terminal 2 (MM2), in Ikeja, which was concessioned to Wale Babalakin. Despite its small size, the terminal is run efficiently and is well-maintained. This contrasts with government-run terminals, which even after refurbishment often become degraded within four years due to poor maintenance and vandalism. However, at MM2, cleanliness, functioning air conditioners, and other well-maintained facilities demonstrate the benefits of privatization.
With the Dangote Refinery taking off, what are your concerns?
Dangote’s move to reduce the price of diesel has had a significant impact, and further reductions are expected. Additionally, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stabilizing the economy, the naira is gaining strength, and those involved in illegal currency practices are being caught. These developments indicate a positive trend, suggesting that privatization, when done correctly, can benefit both the economy and the public sector.
It was reported that a foreign currency trading platform was behind the exchange rate volatility…?
Fifteen billion dollars is a huge sum, and the government must investigate the source of this money. Most African countries cannot generate $15 billion in a period of four years. So, if the bureau de change has transacted $15 billion, it must have knowledge of the people behind these transactions, as well as where the money is going. This situation is newsworthy and should be on the front pages of newspapers.
What do you have to say about the trending voice notes attributed to you concerning Sunday Igboho?
The voice note issue was shocking. It was a conversation with one of my friend’s brothers in the United States. He was asking me how to resolve the issue with Sunday Igboho and how I would reconcile with him. I also mentioned a former Chief Security Officer (CSO), whom I call Sadam, Rasak Arogundade. We talked for about an hour and a half, and during the conversation I mentioned the CSO. I said that someone told me, though it wasn’t confirmed information, that Tayo Ayinde was the one financing Sunday Igboho’s activities through Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I was clear that it was unverified, but I relayed it during our private conversation. I mentioned this in confidence, emphasizing that it might not be true. However, the voice note was edited, cutting out the part where I clarified that the information wasn’t confirmed, leading to misunderstandings. This selective editing created confusion and spread misinformation. A conversation that lasted one and a half hours was cut down to 17 minutes, distorting our two-hour discussion. At the end of the day, they took a portion of my statement, brought the audio out and published it. I saw it on their page, and then they started sending me messages, claiming that I defamed them. I believe the case is in court because I saw it on the front page of the newspaper today (Wednesday, April 24), though I haven’t been served yet. I suppose we will meet in court. The most unfortunate aspect is that Tayo Ayinde, who is not a controversial person and has never publicly attacked me, has become entangled in this mess. Tayo Ayinde is a quiet person who doesn’t talk much. Yet the other side has bullied me more than anyone else in the world, either by proxy or directly. They’ve called me every name in the book. Some of their bloggers recently claimed that I have a spirit that drinks blood in my house. There has been a lot of nonsense said about me, but I believe that, as a public figure, I can’t challenge everything said about me in court. Still, if someone wants to take me to court, I am ready; the court can interpret anything the two lawyers say. The most unfortunate aspect is the issue with Tayo Ayinde, which I mentioned as something someone told me, but was not confirmed. It became public. I was just having a casual conversation with my friend on a WhatsApp call and I don’t know how the voice note got out. If we get to court, I’ll ask for an explanation of how a private conversation could be circulated throughout the entire world. Assuming I came out publicly and said all these things, then I know I’d need to defend that in court. Some people don’t understand what constitutes libel, but we’ll address that in court. That’s the issue.