HANDFUL PROTESTERS ATTEND AMOTEKUN SOLIDARITY RALLY IN OGUN STATE

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Da[po Abiodun  who is one of the South-West Governors who initiated the project was not in attendance, but sources as the venue said a ‘faceless’ official of the government was in attendance to be part of the rally.

Penpushing further reports that, the  Ogun State Coordinator of Amotekun Solidarity rally, Jimoh  Taofeek while addressing the members  urged the Federal Government to reconsider its position on the controversial issue, explaining that Amotekun is not established to witch-hunt anybody but rather to compliment efforts of other security agencies in the country.

His words ” We are here to reach out to the larger public. We want to tell the Federal Government and the entire Nigerian populace that we want Amotekun in South-West. If Hisbah can be in the Northern States, if there can be Azaru, there can be Civilian JTF, if there can be Vigilance groups, some of them even carry arms, arresting even legitimate police officers and been prosecuted so there is no reason why we should not consider Amotekun in South-West”.

 “Besides, I want make it very clear that Amotekun is not to witch hunt anybody whatsoever. I think one of the major responsibilities is to protect the masses, the safety of lives and properties is the major responsibility of the government. And I see no reason why anybody, quote and unquote should say no to Amotekun”.

Penpushing also reports that, Secretary-General of Committee for Defence Human Rights ( CDHR), Olayinka Folarin  in his own contributions said  Amotekun was a reality that have manifested, declaring further that it has come to stay.

 His words:  “If we don’t secure ourselves, nobody will secure us. This outfit is to compliment the efforts of other security outfits. All people living in South- West must support Amotekun”.

The Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson who came earlier to monitor the security arrangemenst at the venue, assured that the command would always ensure the protection of lives and properties of the people residing in the State.

 “I am on routine visit, everyday, I  go round the metro to ensure that everywhere is calm but I got intelligence reports that some groups yet unidentified are trying to protest or do rally and I just came around to talk to my men and place them on alert to ensure that there is no breach of peace’.

‘Nobody told me, nobody wrote to me of any protest, my own duty is to ensure that I come out to ensure that there is no breach of peace, that law abiding citizens go about their business unhindered. My advice is to everyone, anyone who has to go about protesting as it is the right of every citizen as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended”.

“We are here to ensure that nobody harasses, intimidate or cause a breach of peace and go on wanton destruction of properties, that we will not tolerate. I have seen my policemen they are well placed, they have started strategically and I have no problem with them, they are basically here to checkmate any one who wants to take laws into there hands and the law will descend on that person ruthlessly”.