AMOTEKUN IS NOT DUPLICATION OF POLICE SAYS SOUTH WEST GOVERNORS

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) while speaking at the event said that the establishment of “Amotekun” was born out of the spark of increased armed robbery, bandictry and kidnappings across South-West Region.

Penpushing further reports that, Fayemi  added  that the primary responsibility of all the Governors according to section 14 (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended is the welfare of its citizenry.

The Governor maintained that Amotekun is not a duplication of the Nigerian Police Force, and is not as if ‘we Southwest governors are creating regional police force, nor undermining the power of the Federal Government of Nigeria’.

“People should not misinterpret Amotekun, we are not here to undermined the power of the Federal Government of Nigeria, but our primary interest is the security and safety of our people, that is why we decided to come together to curb the security menace in this region. Amotekun is a source of community policing strategy; it is a confident building strategy for our people in the western zone’.

Penpushing also reports that. Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde in his welcome address noted that this is the time for the Yoruba’s to tackle all the frightening, adding, “we Governors have not forget our oath in providing peace and security and coming together to fish out our common enemy’

‘All of us meet six months ago and decided to set up a joint security outfit because it is our priority as a Governor to ensure that the citizens carried out their legitimate business and the security of their lives and properties is our priority’.

The Governor however said that Oyo State has added another feather to its cap, noting that it will be recorded in the history that the State hosted a regional security outfit where its headquarters is located in Ibadan.

Penpushing reports that, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the Southwest Governors forum pointed out that hardly any state in southwest is immune from security challenges, adding that the rate of terrorism in the region has been giving the Governors a lot of concern.

“We decided that something must be done in order to curb the menace and we think that combine efforts is the only solution to it, we shall not relent until our people are secured’,the Ondo State Governor emphasised.

Penpushing further reports that,  the Yoruba World Congress Leader, Prof. Banjo Akintoye  in his submission  said some people might have objection to the newly established security outfit because they think it is established to threatened them unknowing to them that what the Governors were doing is to defend the nation and every Yoruba should be involved in defending the nation.

“I expect people in charge of it to take responsibility and make sure that necessary people are carried along, we need to defend our region and make sure that our people are safe’,Akintoye declared.

“Our farm and our basis of plantations are been destroyed everyday and our people begins to scared because they couldn’t go to their farm any longer, although am not opposing restructuring, but this is not restructuring nor reducing the power of the police or creation of State police, but it is about calling on the Yorubas who are the largest and most educated in the whole of Africa continent to stand up to defend their land’

Penpushing also reports that. Oni of Ile-Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi who spoke on behalf of the royal fathers called for the support of the security outfit, saying that all traditional rulers are in support so that peace can reign in Southwest region.