A solidarity walk in support of the Western Nigeria Security Network code named Amoteku was held in Ibadan,the Oyo state capital on Tuesday.
Members of the Yoruba World Congress including Youth Groups, Agbekoya group, Atayese, Yoruba Reconciliation Groups, Kaaro Ojiire group, Oodua People Congress, Majiyagbe Group assembled at Rememberance Arcade,as early as 8 am carrying banners with inscriptions such “Yoruba Omo Oodua: Protect Yourself, Amotekun”, “On Amotekun we stand”, “We want to know who owns the Land. Amotekun”, No Amotekun, No Hisbah”, among others
Amidst tight security, the protesters apart from carrying the placards, also sang various solidarity songs to express their to support the Southwest Governors and ensure the security outfit works.
Oyo State Coordinator of YWC,Kunle Adesokan while speaking with journalists declared that no amount of intimidation from Nigeria Police Force, can stop the existence of the outfit saying that security of lives and property of Yoruba’s is a must and paramount to the geo-political zone.
According to him, the battle line has been drawn with the Federal Government on the creation of thr security outfit .There is no going back on the issue of Amotekun.
Read also: On Operation Amotekun
While saying that Yoruba people will not allow foreigners to come and kill their people unnecessary, the coordinator pointed out that Yorubas are tired of blood sheding because “Nigeria is not mean for anybody nor a group of people, or a certain section, of the country”.
“No amount of Police can stop us because people want to secure their lives and they don’t owe anybody apology in doing this. We are here in our land and has the sense of belonging to accommodate everybody who come to southwest for trade and commerce, but we would not allow anybody to come here raping our wives, killing our farmers and destroying our farm land.
“Nigeria is for us and for us all. Not for certain section of people. We are here on our own land with a sense of belonging to accommodate everybody to come to the southwest region for trade, commerce and every other legitimate thing, and we will not allow anyone to come here, rape our wives and daughters, kill our farmers, destroy our farms and kill our people unnecessarily. We will not allow that.
According to him. today is another day of history in our life time, this will serve as our stand for today’s appearance of the real Amotekun to the people of the Southwest. We are addressing our governors and we are giving all our governors in the southwest this solidarity support.
“We want to tell them that the entire Yoruba people are behind Amotekun and there is no going back. No matter the threat from wherever, Yoruba is not going back from the Amotekun plan. We will never allow foreigners to come on our lands to start killing us unnecessarily. We are tired of the blood-letting.
“Right now, as it is happening here, so also it is in other six Southwest states. We are only trying to tell the Governors that they are not alone in this game. It is unfortunate that the people that should give us adequate security refused to do so. What I want to tell you categorically is that security is an environmental matter. You just have to have an idea to secure your own environment. No matter what
“On behalf of the Yoruba leader, Banji Akintoye, and the Yoruba in general, we appreciate all the southwest governors, they should know that they are not alone in the struggle so there should be no retreat in their commitment towards the security idea. We are telling the governors that they were not alone, security is an environmental issue, so there is a need for us to secure our environment.
“Here is my message to Governor Seyi Makinde on behalf of the leader of Yoruba Worldwide namely, Banji Akintoye. We commend our governors for floating the phenomenon security project. It is in appreciation of this great ventures that all the Yorubas Worldwide have risen to express their massive support for the project which impliedly is appreciating you.
“While I am, therefore, appreciating you is why I am thanking you for the challenge which we are posing to you now which is that there should be no retreat in your commitment to the idea until we have peace in our lands and therefore asking you to give your total support across the board to the executing bodies of this project namely, the DAWN Commission and the Yoruba World Congress and our amiable Yoruba leader, Banji Akintoye.
