The Southwest Governors’ Forum (SGF) has condemned the flouting of the order given by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to disengage his men from Magodo estate during his visit to the area.
The SGF reacting to the video which has gone viral on social media in a press statement signed by Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu SAN, Chairman South West Governors Forum and obtained by Neptune Prime stated that the utter disrespect of the officer undermined the practice of true federalism in a democratic setting.
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According to the statement, an operation orchestrated by persons within the federal seat of power without the knowledge of the governor raises an alarm for anarchy.
“The utter disrespect, which underlines the response of the officer to the Governor establishes, beyond doubt, the impracticability of the current system, dubiously christened “Federalism”. An arrangement, which compels the Governor of a State to seek clarifications on security issues in his jurisdiction from totally extraneous bodies or persons, is a sure recipe for anarchy,” the SGF stated.
Therefore, the governors are demanding an explanation from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) the rationale behind the act where a CSP would flouted the order of a sitting governor within his jurisdiction.
“We condemn, very strongly, this brazen assault on decency. We call on the IG to explain the justification for this intrusion. This is not acceptable. Any expectations of rapprochement between so called federating units and federal security agencies are becoming forlorn, progressively, due to deliberate acts which mock our very avowal to ethics and professionalism.
“We condemn, in very clear terms, the role of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami SAN in this act of gross moral turpitude.
“We, on our part, will continue to interrogate the current system, which treats elected representatives of the people as mere prefects, while appointed office holders ride rough shod over them as Lords of the Manor. If the purported Chief Security Officers of the States of the Federation require clearance from the office of the IG on matters within their areas of jurisdictions, only hypocrites will wonder why the current security crisis deepens and there appears to be no solution in the foreseeable future.
“We condemn very strongly, this brazen assault on decency. We call on the IG to explain the justification for this intrusion. This is not acceptable. Any expectations of rapprochement between so called federating units and federal security agencies are becoming forlorn, progressively, due to deliberate acts which mock our very avowal to ethics and professionalism.”
The forum has thrown its weight behind the Lagos State Governor and advised him to deploy the regional security outfit known as Amotekun in the state.
The forum also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to check the excesses of some persons under his control to avoid a further damage of the trust bestowed on the federal government by the people.
“We stand by our brother, the Governor of Lagos State. We advise him to deploy the Regional security outfit in the State to protect the lives and property of the people.
We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to rein in the excesses of certain elements bent on acting in a manner capable of eroding the bond of trust existing between the people and the Federal Government. It is preposterous for political appointees to seek to undermine the very structure of service upon which their appointments rest.”
