Amotekun: South-West leaders talk tough, forge ahead

LEADERS of thought in the South-Western region of the country have continued to talk tough over the opposition of a section to the new security initiative of the region, code-named Operation Amotekun, vowing to forge ahead with the arrangement.

In separate interviews with Sunday Tribune, the convener of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Yoruba Koya Movement, Chief Deji Osibogun; and the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, insisted that all Yoruba ought to rally round Amotekun.

Apart from the two leaders, apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, and a frontline traditional ruler, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, faulted the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, insisting that the security outfit ought to stand.

While Chief Osibogun accused President Muhammadu Buhari and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, of being behind the travails of the region, Chief Gani Adams maintained that Amotekun had been long overdue.

According to Adams, “The difference between Operation Amotekun and private security outfit is that government controls it. Therefore, it will be well planned; it will be legitimised.

“So, we have to encourage the governors to start first. By the time they start fully, within just one month, criminals will move back; they will know that South-West is no longer a safe haven for them.

“I can tell you authoritatively that there are some ugly incidents that are happening in the South-West and you media are playing them down because you don’t want to create panic in our region. But because you don’t want to run down the government; you don’t want to create panic, you play them down.

“But what about the families of those who are affected by these incidents? Do we know who will be victim tomorrow? So, against all odds, we have to support this Operation Amotekun initiative.”

Amotekun will fight Miyetti Allah, if they trouble Yorubaland –Afenifere

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, declared that the South-West security outfit, Amotekun was, indeed, targeted at members of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders, “if their intention is to trouble Yorubaland.”

Making a case for the security initiative on Thursday at the second anniversary of installation of Chief Gani Adams as Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland in Lagos, Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, noted that Amotekun was established to combat insecurity and put anybody or group of persons that threatens the peace and harmony of the South-West region under control.

“Miyetti Allah said Amotekun is targeted at them. Yes, it is targeted at them, if they are behind the killing and kidnapping of our people. But if they are not and they desire to live with us in peace and harmony, Amotekun will protect them, because the security outfit was established to combat the spate of insecurity and go after criminals who trouble the South-West region. It is for the protection of Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and other ethnic groups living in the South-West.

“It is not the intention of South-West governors to trouble the unity and peace of the country through the establishment of Amotekun. The security outfit is not for war. If they are, it will reflect in the sophistication of the riffles they bear.

“They bear cheap rifles, unlike Miyetti Allah whose members carry AK47 riffles and trouble the peace of the country. This is a defining moment for us. We have heard Miyetti Allah saying that the Federal Government should arrest Amotekun. We are waiting for them. We have accepted Amotekun 100 per cent, while the fight for the actualisation of state police continues,” he said.

While urging the governors to go ahead with the initiative, he advised Amotekun personnel to be professional in their conduct.

“The way forward is for our governors to go ahead with Amotekun. They should try as much as possible to organise it professionally. Amotekun personnel should comport themselves very well and be sure to go after criminals and not cause trouble with anybody.

“But if the Federal Government wants the South-West to stop Amotekun, it should disband Hisbah and the Civilian JTF. They should declare them illegal. When this is done, we will tell our governors to stop Amotekun but without this being done, Amotekun has come to stay.”

Malami’s statement on Amotekun is faulty –Olugbon

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, also faulted Malami’s statement, saying it was discriminatory and insulting to the sensitivity of South-West governors and the Yoruba race.

The traditional ruler, in an interview with Sunday Tribune, cautioned the Federal Government not to toy with the security of lives and properties of the people of the region, maintaining that the establishment such outfit by the six state governors showed the ineptitude of the federal security agencies to save the region from its security challenges.

He charged the six governors of the zone to work out legal framework to give Amotekun structural base for its operations through various state Houses of Assembly as quick as possible.

“I laud our six governors for their brave determination to rescue our region from shackles of insecurity. Amotekun has come to stay and there is no going back; simply, no retreat no surrender.

“I will advise all South-West state governments to work out legal frame work to give Amotekun structural base for its operations through various state Assemblies as quick as possible,” Oba Alao stated.