Makinde faults Nigeria’s constitution for lack of state police, says governors limited

By Adejayan Gbenga

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has lamented the constitutional limitations placed on state governors in addressing insecurity, saying they are saddled with enormous responsibilities without the authority required to effectively manage security challenges.

Makinde made the remark on Saturday while delivering his acceptance speech after emerging as the consensus presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement for the 2027 general elections. The event was held at the University College Hospital in Ibadan and was attended by party leaders from across the 36 states of the federation.

The governor said the worsening security situation in the country, including incidents of kidnapping and attacks on schoolchildren, has exposed major flaws in Nigeria’s existing security architecture and underscored the need for urgent reforms.

According to him, governors are routinely referred to as chief security officers of their states, yet they lack direct constitutional control over security agencies responsible for maintaining law and order.

“As Governor of Oyo State, I carry the painful burden of being called chief security officer, yet lacking constitutional control over the security agencies needed to fully confront these threats,” Makinde said.

He argued that it is unjust to hold governors accountable for security outcomes while denying them the powers necessary to take decisive action, insisting that responsibility and authority must go hand in hand.

Makinde pledged that, if elected president in 2027, he would pursue reforms aimed at decentralising Nigeria’s security framework to grant states greater control in combating insecurity. He stressed that national security should be treated as a serious governance issue rather than a political slogan.

The governor also called for reforms in the operations of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, saying the organisation should become more efficient and commercially driven. He added that his economic agenda would include fair pricing mechanisms for petroleum products to shield citizens from sudden price hikes. The event was attended by prominent political figures, including Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Mohammed Jatau and Adebo Ogundoyin.