A political expert, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on National Assembly lawmakers to consider the adoption of state police and power rotation at the ongoing constitution amendment.
Yilwatda, a Plateau State politician, who expressed that the amendment was overdue, made the call on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He urged the lawmakers to also consider equal derivations allotted to all regions of the country.
Yilwatda, described the North Central zone as a minority, alleged that the zone had borne the brunt of unfair treatment and inequitable system of government in the country.
“One of the pressing issue for us as a minority region is the issue of national security. This is because we are one of the regions that have witness frequent attacks in our communities in the last 20 years.
“Security is dear to us and anything that will ensure the security of our people in the constitution amendment, we will support it, especially community policing.
“It is important the state governments take responsibility for the security architecture within their communities and also the localisation of the security architecture,’’ he said.
He said that some Local Government Areas in the North Central and other parts of the North were the size of some states in the South East, whereas they have same police support.
According to him, the insufficient police support has contributed to having unmanned areas that encourages criminal activities.
“Borgu Local Government in Niger State is about 10,900 square kilometers, and the whole of southeast is roughly about 40,000 square kilometers. One local government in Niger State is about 25 per cent of the whole of the South East, and they are given the same police support as a state and as local government.
“This has created a lot of unmanned spaces that give room for the security to be diluted at the rural communities, more attacks and limiting the protection on communities.
“In Plateau State, we have mountainous communities, forested communities, where criminal activities are carried out. If there is state police, the states will buy mountain bikes for them instead of vehicles to be able to climb those mountains to pursue the criminals and at the center, they will buy normal trucks,’’ he said.
According to him, having police architecture, will allow the governor of the state to plan better and protect the people.
“The constitution amendment should be amended to consider equitable distribution of projects, positions, resources in the country, which will give people in the region a sense of belonging.
“There are solid minerals in the North Central that should make us have North Central Development Commission, just like the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“If you are giving 15 per cent derivation for petroleum, why not 15 per cent derivation for solid minerals also, because they are all minerals,’’ he said.
According to him, having an institution to oversee the North Central development, will ensure the rehabilitation of areas destroyed by mining activities and compensate affected people.
(NAN)
