Three South-West Governors have defended the establishment of the regional security group – Amotekun – saying it was in the best interest of the people.
While Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; and Ekiti’s Kayode Fayemi said it was not an alternative police, Oyo’s Seyi Makinde said there was no alternative to the oneness of the South-West.
There were counter-feelings against the Amotekun as its inauguration, held in Ibadan on Thursday, approached.
There were indications that the Federal Government did not encourage it as it was being seen as devolving security from the centre.
Such thinking was arguably justified when police authorities, including the inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and all his men, stayed away from the launch.
Lagos, Ogun and Sun state governors too were absent.
Speaking at the event attended by many leaders in the region, including the Ooni of Ice, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, were present, however, Akeredolu said it was not structurally antagonistic.
“Most of us are so worried about it such that our children abroad would call and say that they were afraid to come back home. So, we resolved that it is our collective efforts that can save us from these banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, ritual killing, armed robbery, herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts, cybercrime, and that proactive and pragmatic approach will be the solution to these problems.
“Our zone became the main focus of negative reports and this is because South-West constitutes about 90 per cent of the media in the country. The security of our people needs serious counter measures from the government, and we have resolved that we will not relent until the entire space is secure. It is our sincere hope that our security efforts will serve as complement to the security architecture put in place by the Federal Government. It is not in our intention to erect any antagonistic structure whose operation is at cross-purposes with the existing template of events.”
Fayemi expressed disappointment that some false claims heralded the birth of Amotekun.
He said, “We are not creating a regional police force neither are we oblivious of steps to take in order to have state police. Yes, some of us are apologetic advocates of state police, but we are also law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. We know the process and procedure to undergo to get to that point.”“We are not creating a regional police force neither are we oblivious of steps to take in order to have state police. Yes, some of us are apologetic advocates of state police, but we are also law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. We know the process and procedure to undergo to get to that point.”
Makinde assured the gathering that the governments involved would ensure that everyone live in peace.
“Our regional integration should be seen in one light and one light alone – that we are coming together to fight a common enemy. That enemy is not Nigeria; the enemies are the elements among us and their affiliates who are determined to cause commotion within the borders of our states and threaten our peaceful coexistence,” he said.
