Adebayo Adenrele
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has alerted President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration that his State will acquire arms for the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) in the state to fight Bandits.
Akeredolu, in a statement said this to berate the approval of arms to the equivalent Amotekun in Katsina State by the Federal Government to fight Bandits, which is not granted for South-western States.
He noted that the approval instigate the pursuit of one Country with two systems, adding that the failed unitary policing system is a deliberate method of subjugation.
The statement reads,
“The video making the rounds showing the equivalent of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) in Katsina, obtaining the approval of the Federal Government to bear arms is fraught with great dangers. Denying Amotekun the urgently needed rights, to legitimately bear arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which we have been clamouring for.”
“That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing one country, two systems solution to the national question. If the katsina situation conferring advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged.”
“The Independence agreement was based on a democratic arrangement to have a federal state and devolved internal security mechanics. We must go back to that agreement. Denying Amotekun the right to bear arms exposes the Southwest to life-threatening marauders and organized crime. It is also a deliberate destruction of our agricultural sector. It is an existential threat.”
“We want to reiterate, that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. Ondo State government under the doctrine of necessity have decided to fulfil its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them. This is more so, given that the bandits have an unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. The State government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people.”