The Edo State House of Assembly has strongly condemned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s suspension of the Edo State Security Corps, labeling it as unconstitutional, null, and void....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
The Majority Leader of the Eighth Assembly, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, addressed journalists in Benin City, accusing the federal government of political strangulation aimed at subverting the will of the people in the upcoming governorship election on September 21st, 2024.
Hon. Aiguobarueghian asserted that the establishment of the state security corps is backed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, specifically Section 11, subsections 1 and 2, which empower the State House of Assembly to legislate for the maintenance of peace, good governance, and law and order. She emphasized that the Edo State House of Assembly acted within its constitutional rights by establishing the security corps in accordance with Section 14 of the constitution and the principles of federalism.
The Majority Leader called on the IGP to recant his suspension, arguing that the AIG of Police and the Police Commissioner should have briefed him on the legitimacy of the State Security Corps. She accused the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state of attempting to use federal might against the people ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.
Hon. Aiguobarueghian urged the APC and the federal government to prioritize the protection of lives and property of Edo State citizens. She highlighted the successful collaboration between the state security corps and other security agencies in combating crime, particularly kidnapping, which has significantly reduced in the state.
The Majority Leader maintained that the Inspector General of Police lacks the authority to disband a state security corps that has been passed into law by the state assembly and assented to by the governor. She pointed out that 23 out of the 36 states in the country have similar security networks to tackle the growing insecurity in their respective states.
The Edo State House of Assembly remains resolute in its stance against the IGP’s suspension of the state security corps, deeming it an unconstitutional overreach by the federal government. The assembly has vowed to protect the interests of Edo State citizens and ensure a peaceful and fair gubernatorial election come September 21st, 2024.
