Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has made a strong case for the introduction of state police as a way of tackling the security challenges facing Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday at the 2013 Nigerian Bar Association Law Week organised by Owerri branch

Of the NBA, Okorocha argued that the state police should be encouraged to enable states as federating units contribute in tackling security challenges threatening the Nigerian nation. He added that it would also be of great benefit for states in the aspect of crime prevention and effective community policing.

The governor canvassed for true federalism in the country so as to encourage equitable distribution of wealth and decentralisation of power among the components of the federation.

He enjoined politicians to think more on how to better the lives of the people than about how to win future elections.

The governor posited that local governments are not truly federating units but an addendum to the states which have the constitutional responsibility to oversee their existence.

“We have come to a critical stage in the country where we should put politics behind and find a way of putting food on the table of a common man in the country,” he stated.

He assured that the issue of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in the state would be resolved soonest to pave way for the appointment of judges and magistrates.

Earlier in his keynote speech at the event held at Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Barr. Uche Onyeaguocha, stated that the enemies of development of federalism in Nigeria have succeeded in creating the fear in such a way that anyone pursuing the expansion and growth of an ideal federal structure in Nigeria is seen as a secessionist and as such even as call for the independence of the other level of the federal structure is misinterpreted.

In an address of welcome, Imo State NBA Chairman, Barr. S. I. Opara thanked Okorocha for coming and applauded him for his achievements as governor. Opara, however, appealed to the governor to resolve the crisis in the state Judicial Service Commission and employ more lawyers as law officers in the ministry of justice for speedy dispensation of justice.

•Photo shows Governor Okorocha.

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