Stakeholders including religious body, traditional rulers, socio-political groups, security agencies and residents of Ondo State, on Monday, converged on the Babafunke Ajasin Auditorium in Akure, to give their voice on the State Security Network Agency also known as ‘Amotekun’ during a public hearing.
Speaking, the governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, assured that the formation of the security outfit will not be used to oppress, victimise or harass any ethnic group.
The governor who said his government will always give priority to the security of lives and property maintained that the security outfit has come to stay in the state and the region.
He called for the involvement of the people at the grassroots in the setting up of the Ondo State Security Network as well as the Amotekun corps.
He said: “Amotekun is just only to assist the police and civil defence in the battle against insecurity in order to share intelligence particularly in terrains the conventional security agencies are not familiar with.
“Either we like it or not there is no going back on Amotekun. All we are here for is just to have your input as regards the security outfit.
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Akeredolu maintained that irrespective of the obstacles, Amotekun will be fully achieved and said “We have scrutinised it at the state executive council and it was forwarded to the House of Assembly which has scaled through the first and second reading.
“The next stage is the public hearing in order to have everyone input so has to have an efficient Ondo State Security Network Agency.
“There are those that are in support of Amotekun and some not in support. But those in support will triumph.
“The Amotekun issue is not the initiative of just one state but it involved all the six states of the South-West which included collaborations of the AGs and Speakers.
“It was the DAWN commission that actually worked on Amotekun before the governors decided to execute it.
Speaking, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, assured that all inputs made at the public hearing will be taken into consideration when harmonising the Ondo State position with the other five South-West states.
He said the law on Amotekun will be made available to all the people of the state saying “everybody will have access to it and will be able to read it.”
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, while speaking, said the region has taken a big step towards restructuring of the country and protecting the lives of its people.
He described the Amotekun initiative as the arrival of Yoruba freedom and solicited for the cooperation of the people of the state to ensure the success of the outfit.
He commended Akeredolu for his position on the initiative, saying there should not be any political attachment to the outfit and said those sceptical about Amotekun should bury such thought as the move was not part of plans for the Yorubas to secede from Nigeria.
“Yorubas cannot secede from Nigeria. We have sowed a lot to contemplate secession. What we are emphasising is the insecurity issue in the country.
“Amotekun arrival represents the freedom of Yorubas from oppression within the Nigerian nation. Section 4 should include that Amotekun corps should have the power to prosecute.
Afenifere in its position, which was relayed by its Secretary-General, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, commended the governors for speaking with one voice despite their political leaning and differences.
He said the Yoruba nation had terrible experiences in the hands of bandits, herdsmen and kidnappers and urged those in charge of the outfit to be firm and fair in the dispensation of justice.
The Olubaka of Oka Akoko, Oba Adebori Adeleye, said indigenes of the community should be involved in the security of their domain while they should collaborate with the security operatives to share information.
He called for speedy, fair action and justice while discipline should be the watchword of the security personnel.