SOKOTO: Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State and current Senator representing Sokoto South, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s advocacy for the establishment of state police, describing it as a crucial measure to tackle Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.
Speaking on Friday night during Channels Television’s Politics Today program, monitored in Abuja, Tambuwal painted a bleak picture of the security challenges facing Sokoto State, particularly in his senatorial district, emphasizing the urgent need for localized policing.
I am no longer a governor, but I fully support the creation of state police, Tambuwal said. While the federal police exist, the problem partly lies in posting officers to regions they do not know such as sending someone from Sokoto to Enugu who may neither understand the terrain nor the local language. We need more boots on the ground, both in the police and the military.
The Senator stressed that the success of state policing hinges on adequate recruitment, improved welfare, and modern equipment for security personnel.
We must recruit more officers, ensure their welfare, and provide better remuneration. When a security personnel falls in the line of duty, what happens to their families? This welfare must extend beyond just the officers themselves,” he added.
Tambuwal’s stance aligns with President Tinubu’s renewed push for constitutional reforms that would empower states to establish their own police forces amid rising insecurity nationwide.
Responding to claims by former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai alleging federal government payments to bandits, Tambuwal categorically denied any knowledge or involvement. “I am not aware of anyone paying bandits, and I cannot claim to know that such payments are being made,” he said.
Highlighting the severity of the crisis in his home state, Tambuwal lamented, “Bandits have nearly taken over every local government in Sokoto South and Sokoto East.
The situation is deteriorating daily. For instance, Shagari Local Government has been evacuated; villagers have fled while terrorists control the area. Similar conditions prevail in Tureta, Bodinga, and other locations.
Tambuwal, who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, described the attackers as bandits involved in kidnapping and killings. He called for a coordinated and simultaneous military offensive, noting that many criminal gangs retreat from Zamfara into Sokoto when pressured by security forces.
On the political front, Tambuwal reiterated his commitment to the coalition aiming to prevent President Tinubu’s re-election, clarifying that the movement represents a national consensus rather than a regional or Northern conspiracy.
He urged opposition leaders including Abubakar Atiku, Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso to unite behind a single presidential candidate. “It will be difficult to defeat Tinubu if these prominent figures run individually instead of presenting a united front,” he noted.
While maintaining his membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tambuwal expressed hope that the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would collaborate effectively as a coalition against Tinubu in 2027.
