Oghara stakeholders seek accountable state policing

Oghara stakeholders seek accountable state policingThe Oghara Study Group (OSG) in collaboration with the Palace of the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom has called for a people-centred, professional and accountable state policing system.The group made call in a communique issued on Friday at the end of the Oghara Pre-Town Hall Webinar on State Policing Reforms.The statement was signed by co-conveners of the group, Rev. David Ugolor and Prof. Charles Eghweree.Recall that the Webinar, themed, “From Community Crisis to National Reform: Rethinking State Policing through the Oghara Experience”, was held on Thursday.The meeting was a prelude to the “Oghara Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on Security and Development” scheduled for Aug. 15. The group said that the objective of the Town Hall meeting was to produce a collective and inclusive Oghara position reflecting the experiences and aspirations of the entire Kingdom.OSG said the final Oghara Declaration and Policy Memorandum would subsequently be submitted to the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill as the Kingdom’s contribution to the ongoing national consultation. The group warned that decentralising policing without adequate safeguards could worsen political interference, abused and impunity.It said that Oghara Kingdom was poised to move beyond merely expressing concerns over insecurity and contribute practical, evidence-based recommendations to the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill.The group said that the essence of the gathering was to enable communities affected by insecurity to become active participants in shaping the policies designed to protect them.”The webinar received the support and participation of the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Noble Eshemitan (Orefe 111)whose involvement provided the traditional and institutional foundation for the initiative.”Also, former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori made special remarks on the state-policing debate, linking it to the broader question of true federalism.”The former governor urge Oghara to develop and submit its own position to the national reform on state-policing debate,” it said.The group said that the Webinar which attracted array of security experts across the globe, agreed that the establishment of state police must not be confused with police reform.It noted that while decentralised policing could bring security closer to communities and improve the use of local intelligence, it could also reproduce existing weaknesses or create fresh dangers if adequate safeguards were not established.The group identified independent civilian oversight and complaints mechanisms with genuine investigative and sanctioning powers, as essential components of any new policing framework.It, however, said that the ultimate objective was not merely to create another layer of policing but to build a security system that protects citizens, earns public trust, respects rights, uses local knowledge, prevents impunity and makes government more accountable.Reflecting on security situation in Oghara, the group said that insecurity in Oghara goes beyond policing because it affects freedom of movement, farming, food security, economic activities, education, investment, healthcare among others.The OSG said Oghara’s experience could provide an important community-based model for demonstrating how local knowledge and evidence could contribute to national policy development.The group said, it would work with the palace and other stakeholders to consolidate the recommendations from the webinar into an Oghara Declaration on Security and Development and a Policy Memorandum on the National Policing Bill.According to the group, among the proposed recommendations are: constitutional protection for political neutrality, diversity, non-discrimination, professional independence and human-rights protection; independent civilian oversight and accessible complaints and redress mechanisms.Others are: clear standards for recruitment, integrity screening, training and certification; transparent and sustainable funding arrangements; strong controls over firearms and the use of force; and clear rules governing the relationship between federal and state police services.The group reiterated its commitment to working with HRM, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, the Oghara Elite Forum, traditional institutions, government and security agencies, civil society organisations and all sons and daughters of Oghara Kingdom to promote peace, security and development.Among the participants were: Dr Jacob Ighere, President-Gen., Oghara Elite Forum; Dr Sonia Warner, international development and policing expert; Dr Uche Igwe, public policy and governance expert; Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC). Others were: Olumayowa Olaniyi, representing CLEEN Foundation; and Prof. Eghweree, political scientist and Co-Convener of OSG.