Professor Leonard Karshima Shilga, a renowned political commentator, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss suggestions for a declaration of emergency rule in Benue State. He argued that such a measure, while potentially offering short-term relief, may severely damage public confidence in democratic institutions if taken without fully exploring constitutional options. Prof Shilga voiced his concern in a public statement on Tuesday, following the alarming wave of violent attacks in various communities across Benue allegedly perpetrated by suspected herdsmen. In his open letter titled “A Constitutional and Moral Rebuttal to the Call for Emergency Rule in Benue State”, the academic contended that constitutional restrictions often render governors powerless during security crises. He emphasized the need for President Tinubu to address these structural ambiguities and clarify the roles of governors in matters of internal security. He pointed out that in many instances, federal security agencies either disregard or undermine state laws. According to him, the authority vested in governors to direct state police commissioners is largely ineffective due to the federal government’s overriding influence. Prof Shilga’s Recommendations for Resolving Benue’s Security Challenges To address the insecurity in Benue, Prof Shilga urged the president to: Prof Shilga further encouraged the President to foster a stronger partnership between federal and state security agencies to improve intelligence sharing and boost operational effectiveness. He concluded by emphasizing the need for more robust support and funding for local security outfits to advance community policing across the state.
