Presidency Slams Peter Obi Over State Police Remarks, Says “Keep Quiet

The Presidency has expressed strong dissatisfaction with recent comments made by former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, regarding the Federal Government’s proposed establishment of State Police under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

According to Ireporter Online, Obi had earlier welcomed the National Assembly’s passage of the State Police Bill, describing it as a positive step toward long-standing calls for decentralised policing in Nigeria. However, he raised concerns over what he described as a rushed and poorly coordinated legislative process, warning that the lack of broader stakeholder engagement could raise suspicions of political intent.

The former presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) further argued that the major challenge surrounding state policing may not be operational logistics, but the risk of political misuse by state governors if adequate safeguards are not put in place. He maintained that for the policy to succeed, it must evolve into a structured and carefully regulated security framework rather than a politically vulnerable initiative.

In swift response, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, dismissed Obi’s position, describing it as “tragic” and suggesting that the former governor ought to have refrained from making such comments publicly.