*Says governors will abuse state police
From our correspondent, in Bauchi
The Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Muhammadu Danyaya has kicked against the creation of State Police, and instead, favoured the initiative by some Nigerians pushing for Nigeria’s return to a parliamentary system of government.
Emir, Danyaya expressed personal views in his palace , when he fielded question from reporters who visited him in Ningi over the weekend.
Recall that the Emir Danyaya was a one time member, National Council of States (composed then of a sitting President, Vice President, National Assembly leaders, all former Presidents, State Governors and Chief Justices of Nigeria).
The Emir had represented Bauchi
State (Bauchi & Gombe) Council of Emirs (1979 – 1983), was member National Constitutional Conference representing North-East Traditional Rulers (1994 – 1995), was member Traditional Rulers Sub – Committee on Vision 2010 Committee
(1996 – 1997).
Alhaji Yunusa said
“during the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha when he organised the National Constitutional Conference of which he was a member, they had opposed the Presidential system of government because it was “not our own system of government, since the system of government was based on people’s culture and people’s behavior, tradition and ways of living. ”
He said: “Take for example, like in England, they dont have a written constitution but the things that happen every day, people’s behaviours and cultures are being observed, then they use them in the courts and other executive councils.”
He added: “The presidential system is not compatible with our culture, it is not compatible with our values, it is not compatible with our life. Democracy which was brought by Europeans means government of the people, by the people, and for the people , but now this is not serving our purpose. But in the case of the parliamentary system of Government, the prime minister is in the parliament, the governor is in the parliament, everyone is in the parliament they work together, and you will not be elected unless you are elected in your village. And your party will have to win the election. It is not expensive as the Presidential system.”
“When the issue was brought during the conference, some people opposed it because they enjoyed the luxuries in the Presidential system. Myself and some members stood our grounds and defended the parliamentary system. They didn’t win, neither did we, but when we brought up the subject of the parliamentary system of government, we said we should take it and change it, and we decided we should use a mixed model of France, revised model of America, and we should do something in England, and we should join them together, so we did it and it was good. Before General Abacha died, he did not sign it.”
Emir Yunusa said ” those who brought us the Presidential system of an absolute leader did it with good intentions, but they forgot to add the Nigerian tradition and Nigerian culture, and they forgot the Nigerian faith and the life of Nigerians, they did not consider them. They felt that that the presidential government is the one that will unite Nigeria. This has brought us to where we are. Their view is that this government is going to unite Nigeria, so why is it that what is more powerful than ours has cost us and there is no freedom in it at all. And today in the world, there are not many countries that are doing this kind of government, except for a few countries, and even if there is a reform, I will like to say that if we are practising parliamentary system of government since after the independence, our strength, our achievement our development and growth will be more than where we are today.”
He said: “I always support the
parliamentary system because the
American presidential system is by
and large a political dictatorship in
a different form. Presidential system was brought, no one’s opinion was sought, they just imposed it on the people. Its not democratic because the powers of all people lies with the executive, but in Parliamentary System of Government, we know this system of government with the Prime minister and all are in the Parliament. It respects citizens rights, and it is less costly, and every zone will have a vice president. When I was in the constitutional conference and I did not sit and sit idle. I served in many committees. In my opinion, I don’t like the system of government where a leader has full power as in the presidential system. ”
Emir Yunusa opposed the planned creation of state police, which
is now gaining
momentum.
” I do not like this system of allowing each state to have their own police.
” I have many facts that’s why I think giving the police to states is not appropriate, the point of the question you are asking first is why the Nigerian Police that we have for years and years more than 100 years we have the Nigeria Police, why do you want to do it now in states?
“The answer is that there is negligence or lack of political will on the part of the Federal government to address their demands and needs , if the Federal Government take care of them very well , you will not hear such agitations. Therefore, if the successive federal government failed to address ortake care of the Nigerian Police, how will the states do it? They cant , I think the truth of the matter is that if we are not focused, there may be a problem, because if states recruit these policemen and they will be giving them weapons and if they are given weapons may be they won’t get a salary, they wont get incentives, welfare and other renumerations overtime. May be they may not get so many things like providing good working facilities needed working tools, welfare and other things that are needed. I think the state governments can’t provide all their needs since the federal government too can’t do it.”
“I remember since we were a provincial government (native authority), when we had the law enforcement and the police, they gave them everything they needed, cars, houses, and utilities. When they die, they took them to to their home towns and so on, and at the time everyone saw their greatness, gave them respect, but now I see the situation is different as I said, just as many others had said, that the Nigerian Police and the Army do not see their greatness as before, and they dont give them respect as before. That is why there is a lot of trouble. Imagine if the state governments have police, look at the power given to state governors even now that the police are not in their hands, you can’t rule out fears that some governors would hijack the Police and abuse it inappropriately. “
