Political analyst, Prof Leonard Karshima Shilgba, has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu to reject the call for a state of emergency in Benue State, insisting that resorting to emergency rule without exhausting constitutional and democratic avenues may offer a temporary fix but could erode public trust in the country’s institutions.
Prof Shilgba made the call in a statement on Tuesday, against the backdrop of the recent spate of attacks and killings in Benue communities by suspected herdsmen.
In the open letter titled ‘‘A Constitutional and Moral Rebuttal to the Call for Emergency Rule in Benue State”;, the Don alleged that the hands of state governors are tied by certain constitutional leashes in the face of insecurity, urging the president to clarify the governor’s security role.
He said federal security agencies sometimes undermine or ignore state laws, noting that the governor’s power to issue orders to the Commissioner of Police has proven ineffective due to federal override.
Offering recommendations for the security situation in Benue, Prof Shilga asked President Tinubu to, ‘‘Amend Section 215(4) of the constitution to remove the override by the president or minister or to define specific scenarios where federal override is justified. Define “Chief Security Officer”; in operational terms—giving governors full command over security within state boundaries unless overridden under a formal emergency.
‘‘The National Assembly, through a constitutional amendment, should create a dual policing system (federal & state police), amend Sections 214–216 and the second schedule to allow states to establish their own police forces. It should retain the federal police for interstate crimes and national threats and ensure mechanisms for coordination between federal and state police.
‘‘Establish State Security Trust Funds: Allow states to establish secure funds to support their police forces, subject to National Assembly guidelines for accountability.
‘‘The Benue State government, in particular, can seek a legislative framework for ad hoc security contrivances such as “Anyam Nyor”;. They can collaborate with other states for zonal security, forge inter-state security compacts under Sections 5 and 8 of the Constitution, with federal concurrence and institutionalize civil-military liaison offices, including state-level liaison frameworks for engaging the military and police more effectively.
‘‘State legislatures (pending national reform) can formalise local vigilante groups; establish and regulate community or regional security corps under clear laws, as was done in Amotekun in the Southwest and Ebubeagu in the Southeast while lobbying for federal recognition.
Prof Shilga further asked President Tinubu to strengthen collaboration between federal and state security agencies to enhance intelligence sharing and operational efficiency.
He called for the provision of additional resources and support to local security outfits to bolster community policing efforts.
