Ekiti elders commend assembly on passage of Amotekun bill, encourage South-West unity

Following the successful passage of the Ekiti State Security Network Agency codenamed, Operation Amotekun, by the State House of Assembly last Friday, the Ekiti Council of Elders has advised South-West governors not to use the security network to play politics in the region.

Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, the president of the group, Professor Joseph Oluwasanmi and the General Secretary, Mr Niyi Ajibulu, the council said Amotekun would achieve the expected results if the outfit is separated from politics.

While commending the House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill, Oluwasanmi revealed that the people of the region must unite for the development of the zone like they did with Amotekun security network.

He added that the personnel for the security network would be critical to ending the spate of kidnapping, banditry and other crimes in the area, saying, “We must not allow bad eggs and politics to tarnish this great Initiative.”

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According to him, “The Council enjoins Ekiti Government and others to ensure that only people of impeccable characters and unquestionable past are appointed in the Board of the security outfit. Equally, the Amotekun personnel are to be carefully screened so as not to bring in persons or people that would eventually become an impediment to the good intention of the whole idea.

The Council is happy that for once, the Yoruba leaders and opinion moulders are on the same page on an issue of interest to the Yoruba Nation. Consequently, the Council believes that gradually, the Yoruba nation would be speaking with one voice in other matters that would promote the Yoruba Nation/State within the Country.

“The Council dispels the fear in some quarters at the non-Yorubas in the Southwest are the target of the formation. Rather, the security outfit will enable the Yoruba to continue to be good and accommodating hosts they have been renowned for.”

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua in a chat with Tribune Online expressed satisfaction with the expeditious passage accorded the bill by the legislature.

Olumilua who disclosed that Governor Kayode Fayemi will give assent to the bill within the week noted that the Amotekun security outfit would be adequately supported by the government in order to ensure the security of lives and property of residents in the state.