CP declares Cross River’s Green Police illegal, unconstitutional

The Federal Government has declared the Green Police volunteers and cadets recently inaugurated by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State as unconstitutional and illegal.

Commissioner of Police (CP), Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, who gave the position of the federal government sited the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended in section 214 which states that “there shall be a Police Force for Nigeria which shall be known as Nigeria Police Force, subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be establish in the federation or any part thereof.”

Fielding questions from newsmen during a briefing in his office to give information on recent police successes in combating crimes in the state, the CP said they would stop it and his men will arrest anybody who parades himself as Green Police because it was illegal and unconstitutional.

Asked if the directive was from the Inspector General of the Police, the CP said, “I am here to defend the constitution of the federal republic and anything stated in the constitution, I need not wait for the IG to carry out my job or carry out my duty. If anybody is breaching the criminal aspects of the constitution.

What I can do at best is take action and brief my IG. The constitution says there shall be no other police in Nigeria. I think Cross River State is part of Nigeria and I have taken action and have briefed my IG.”

When contacted the state Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Rosemary Archibong, as well as the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Christian Ita maintained common positions that the Green Police was a none armed bearing organisation specifically set up to target the preservation of the state forest reserves and the environment but the clear issue now was that of misunderstanding which in no time will be sorted out between the federal government and the state.

It will be recalled that On May 26th 2016, the governor in a ceremony at the state stadium inaugurated 2000 youths as Green Police volunteers and handed over 25 pick-up vehicles for operational use.

Also last week, the governor performed a second inauguration of the Green Police in six months calling it the “unveiling of the Green Police Cadets”. The cadets were given kia Rio brand salon cars each, they were 10 in number.

Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Ben Ayade had said, “I want you to police every border, every exit point out of this state, police it and man it. When you compromise, you have compromised your conscience and when you compromise your conscience, remember that God is watching you,” he stated.

Ayade maintained that “for every single forest, God has put in it medicine, food and everything mankind needs, hence the need to protect and manage the forest jealously.

“Protect those trees, they have got lives as they share direct relationship with humans, so protect them, show them care, love them for you have the force of Law signed by the governor of this state.

“Your responsibility is therefore, to save mankind that is why God created you, to protect lives. You have a responsibility beyond physical materialism, your responsibility is spiritual, it is from God. When you save a tree, you save a life.”

The official uniform of the group as unveil by the governor shows the cadets decked in deep green top and army green khaki.