…Insists rule of law must prevail on violators of human rights
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, has described the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, which replaced are two same of the same coin.
He made the comparison when he swore in the Chairman and members of the Sokoto State Independent National Electoral Commission, SOSIEC, in Sokoto on Wednesday.
According him, although the effort of the government in axing the infamous SARS is commendable, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammad Adamu should not have been in a haste to foist another notorious body on Nigerians, nonetheless.
Tambuwal suggested that the IGP should consult widely with Nigerians on what kind of police reform is most suitable for the citizens and the country.
He added that merely changing the name from SARs to SWAT, is not the solution to the myriads of problems that the country has been facing.
While advising Buhari to recruit more people into Nigeria’s security outfits, Tambuwal suggested that the Federal government should provide more modern equipments, especially Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets and improved renumeration package to the police
“Some of the activities of SARS prior to its proscription were obviously against the fundamental human right of Nigerians. Therefore, the perpetrators of those wrongdoings, who also gave the police institution a bad name, should be brought to book,” the governor emphasised.
He urged Buhari and the IGP to”intensify efforts on the re-training of those that served in disbanded unit and redeploy them to address the challenges of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in the regions of North-West, North-Central and the country in general.”
Turning to the newly sworn-in Chairman and members of SOSIEC, the governor said their composition and selection was based on their proven integrity and unblemished records of service.
He urged them to come up with guidelines and time table for the conduct of local government elections to enable the state government determine when and how to conduct local government elections very soon.
Tambuwal while congratulating them for their appointments, also charged them to uphold the trust reposed in them by being fair and just in the discharge of their duties.
The new SOSIEC officials include its Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Suleiman and five members: Muazu Garba Dundaye, Sidi Mukhtar Ibrahim, Umar Galadima Durbawa, Abubakar Haliru Dange and Alhaji Musa Illela; who will serve as Permanent Members of the commission.
