Wale Oshun, national president of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has said the formation of the Southwest security outfit ‘Amotekun’ has become inevitable because of the worsening security across the Southwest region.
Oshun said no amount of intimidation from any quarters could stop the security outfit from seeing the light of day, stressing that it had the full backing of the Yorubas both home and abroad.
According to him, “There is no Yoruba man that would not be in support of ‘Amotekun’; this is just to protect ourselves. Listen to our Obas, our intellectual community, the ordinary citizens; it has an overwhelming approval of the Yoruba people both home and abroad.
“We have to realise that it is an indication that every human being has a right to protect him/herself. Security is a public function; if anything, or someone comes to attack you, you have to defend yourself; that is what ‘Amotekun’ is all about,” Oshun said.
Speaking further, he criticised the Attorney-general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over his comment on the setting up of the security outfit, while describing it as ‘reckless’.
He said the constitution guarantees every Nigerian equal right, while adding that it was the highest form of injustice by the authorities if the current situation is allowed to continue without effort to check the trend.
“I have said it before that the AGF may be speaking for himself; because as the AGF, he should be conversant with the constitution that every individual has a right to defend himself from unlawful attacks.
“So, when you now say that we cannot set up ‘Amotekun’ and the criminals keep coming to attack us, so we can’t defend ourselves from them? This is a government that is not providing the necessary guarantee that they can protect us. All the kidnapping, cult-related killings would not be taking place if the government is proactive. I believed the AGF comment is a reckless.
“He is the one that is politicising it; he is reckless. I have said that before and it is in the media. Maybe, he is waiting for all Yoruba people to be killed before he makes a move.
“What he has not realised is that even our laws do not say when you are attacked, you can’t fold your hands and look,” he added.
Meanwhile, speakers from the six states in the South West geo-political zone have thrown their weight behind the recently outfit.
Rising from a meeting of Conference of Speakers of South West State Legislatures held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital lauded the launch of the security outfit saying it would complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies.
Present at the meeting were Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who is also the Chairman Conference of Speakers, Mudashiru Obasa; Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye; Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye; Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Bamidele Oleyeloogun, and Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo.
Others present at the meeting were representatives of
Development Agenda for Western Nigeria ( DAWN) Commission, members from the state Houses of Assembly in the region, security advisers from the region and other concerned stakeholders.
In his welcome address, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin decried the statement credited to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami where he said that the new security outfit is illegal.
“The reactions and controversies generated by the launch especially the statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami were surprising.
“Suffice to say again that ‘Operation Amotekun’ (which will consists mainly of locals in each community) is meant to complement the activities of other security agencies in curbing the rising and disturbing spate of kidnapping, assault, ritual killing, armed robbery and other criminal acts in the South West.
“To me, the legality or illegality of the launch is the most widely discussed issue in the media and indeed Nigeria today, hence our coming together under the auspices of the Southwest Speakers Conference to deliberate on the issue and pledge our unwavering support to the Operation is not only timely but also appropriate and commendable.
“I am happy this conference is providing further opportunity for us as number three citizens of our various states in the Southwest to give necessary legislative backing to our Governors so as to strengthen the efforts of the executive in putting adequate security measures in place in our zone. Another issue before us as Houses of Assembly is our quest to have financial autonomy as already enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.
“Recall that the Fourth Alteration Bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari granted financial autonomy to both the State Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary which consequently empowers us to receive our allocation straight from the
Federation Account. However, this is yet to be implemented.
“We are also expected to work in tandem with all the state governors in the region towards ensuring the success of the Southwest economic integration agenda. It gladdens my heart that states in the Southwest Nigeria have keyed into the vital need for regional cohesion, integration and synergy for all round growth and development of this part of the country. I thank you most sincerely and I wish us all fruitful and happy deliberations”.
According to him, “I am delighted and pleased to offer a convivial welcome to Speakers of States Assembly in the South West Nigeria. It is gratifying to look around and see many familiar faces in our quest to work in synergy as well as lend our voices to issues relating to and affecting our states and the region as a whole.
“It is equally appropriate at this juncture to commend the DAWN Commission for its efforts in coming up with the security initiative. Since the launch of Operation Amotekun on January 9, 2020 in Ibadan by the South West Governors, several reactions have continued to trail the initiative.
The theme of this Conference ‘The imperative of Western Nigerian Security Network (Operation Amotekun): Legislative support for the initiative’, he said, could not have come at a more auspicious time than now.
