We Will Not Fail on State Police, Tinubu Tells Party Leaders

Eshioromeh Sebastian

President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm assurance to Nigerians and the international community that the establishment of state police will become a reality, declaring with confidence to his party leaders, “We will not fail.”

The President made the pledge on Thursday night at the national caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

Speaking directly to the gathering of top party chieftains, including governors, National Assembly leaders, and former governors, President Tinubu revealed he had recently engaged with delegations from the European Union and the United States, where he confidently championed the initiative.

“I had a very long discussion with the US and Europeans. I was bragging to them that definitely we will pass the state police bill to improve security,” Tinubu stated. “They asked me if I’m confident and I said, yes. I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen and if at this level we fail, God forbid, we will not fail.”

His remarks underscore a strategic push to leverage the APC’s dominant position in the National Assembly to pass the landmark legislation, seen as critical to addressing the nation’s multifaceted security challenges.

The President emphasized that achieving an improved security situation requires a collective effort, with all hands on deck to ensure the state police bill is successfully passed into law.

Beyond security reform, President Tinubu also directed the party’s attention to the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy. He insisted that financial empowerment must accompany the legal mandate for it to be meaningful.

“Let us equally look at the recent Supreme Court judgement. What can we do with it, and how well we can position our country and our party. To me, the local government autonomy is, and must be, effective,” he said. “Let us give them. There is no autonomy without funded mandate, we’ll give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance to the Supreme Court. Take leadership seriously.”

The high-profile caucus meeting, which precedes the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Friday, served as a display of unity and strength. It was notably attended by several former governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have recently defected to the APC.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and APC Governors’ Forum Chairman Hope Uzodimma all delivered remarks expressing strong support for the President’s leadership and the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.