The Apero Yoruba Planning Committee, an initiative of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America, has called on Southwest governors to arm Amotekun with AK-47 rifles like their counterpart in Katsina and Borno States.
The group, in a statement at the end of its meeting held on September 25, 2022, said it ruminated on the discriminatory manner in which the Federal Government of Nigeria looked the other way as Katsina and Borno States provided AK-47 rifles for the use of their vigilantes while it declared its opposition to the use of same weapons for other states’ security outfits.
The body said it saw Nigeria as a classic case of a country with different laws for its different parts.
The statement was signed by Prof. Segun Gbadegesin. (Chairman, Apero Planning Committee), Dr. Ayodeji Famuyide. (President, Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America), Agba-Akin Rotimi Kuteyi. (National Secretary, Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America) and Comrade David Adenekan. (Publicity and Media Team).
Apero Yoruba decried the injustice of arming Hisbah and Katsina State security outfits in the North while the Buhari administration is outlawing other parts of the country from acquiring sophisticated weapons like AK-47 for their security outfits.
“This discriminatory approach to security will not be allowed to stand or go unchallenged. Apero Yoruba insists that citizens of Southwest states, like their Northern and Southern counterparts have a constitutional right to the security of lives and properties as the foremost duty of the government. As such, the governments of the Southwest states have a duty to procure sophisticated weapons like AK47 for Amotekun
“Security Network since it is now well-recognized that Nigerian Police is incapable of securing the lives of citizens. An inequitable treatment of the South vis-à-vis the North in this matter negates the principle of justice and fairness. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
“In view of the foregoing, Apero Yoruba unequivocally condemns the Federal Government’s denial of the acquisition of AK47 rifles to Amotekun and demands as Chief Security Officers of their states, Southwest Governors, like other governors, have the constitutional rights to procure all necessary security hardware for Amotekun, including sophisticated weapons like AK-47, drone, ballistic helmets, and vests to defend and protect the entire territorial land space of our people, including Kogi and Kwara states. Apero rejects the idea of suing the Federal Government over this matter because Katsina State has set a precedence for other states to follow,” it said.
The Apero Yoruba demanded the retooling and retraining of local hunters, neighborhood watch, and Agbẹkọya to be fully incorporated into the Southwest security agenda for an effective and holistic security of the region.
The group demanded that since the hinterland is smoothly connected and, as a homogeneous people bound together by kinship ties, language, art, folklore, traditions and customs, every state in the Southwest region, including Lagos State, must embrace the establishment of Amọtẹkun as a regional security outfit.
“We must realise that security lapse in one state ultimately affects other states. Apero Yoruba demands for a headcount of every resident and non-resident in the Southwest region in the “Operation Know Your Neighbor” project.
“The state government, through the local authorities, shall commence a headcount of all the residents and non-residents in their localities. This is doable and the exigency of time demands it,” the group said.
Apero Yoruba commended the astute leadership and tireless efforts of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State for taking a strong lead to defend and protect their ancestral land.
“We urge all the other governors in the Southwest region to follow the leadership example of Governor Akeredolu on the security of our homeland by being proactive and taking responsibility as the Chief Security Officers of their respective states.
“The significance of self-preservation as the first law of nature cannot be overemphasized. A stitch in time saves nine. Enough is enough,” it stated. CONTINUE READING……………………….
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