Scores of stakeholders in Osun State have expressed their thoughts on the establishment of a regional security outfit in the South West region, called Western Nigeria Security Network and codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’.
Recall that governors in the six states of the region, following series of security summits agreed to set up a joint security team for the purpose of stemming the tide of insecurity in the zone.
The security outfit was later launched on January 9, with the promise to conclude every necessary arrangement and input for quick commencement of its operation.
In a swift reaction, therefore, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami in a statement described the formation of the security team as illegal, citing Schedule 2, Item 17 and 45 of the 1999 constitution, that make Defence and Internal Security of Nigeria respectively an exclusive obligation of the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, diverse reactions have continued to trail the establishment of the security outfit across the country.
A legal practitioner in Osogbo, the Osun State capital told DAILY POST that the statement credited to Malami on the formation of Amotekun was not only politically irresponsible but also lacks legal stamina in the contest of the subject matter.
He said those sections of the constitution Malami cited did not envisage a security outfit like Amotekun.
“While item 17 of the schedule 2 of the constitution talks about defence, and places the responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria in the hands of the military, item 45 saddles the police and other paramilitary organisations with the responsibilities of overseeing the internal security architecture of Nigeria.
“None of the section of the constitution cited talks about security as a concept, which was explicitly enunciated in section 14, subsection 2b of the constitution, where security and welfare of the citizenry are being said to be the primary obligation of the government.
“Going by the federal system of administration in Nigeria, by ‘Government ‘ the constitution envisages both the Federal government and the federating units.
“Therefore, state governors, as Chief Security Officers of their various states have the prerogative of fine-tuning alternative ways of protecting lives and property in their domains without breaching the constitution.
“The Minister of Justice should get his facts right and reverse himself on the issue”, he said.
Also, a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Adebisi Oyelakin has berated the Federal government for what he termed ” politicisation of security “.
He said it is natural and expedient for people to come up with better ways of securing their lives and property, adding that the statement made by Malami signalled certain parochial and sectional interests.
Oyelakin called on the governors of the South West to be resolute and do the needful in the aspect of giving necessary legal backing to the security outfit.
In the same vein, a retired police officer, and community leader at Ikirun, in Boripe Local Government Area of the state, Mr Sesan Oladeji called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Minister of Justice to order.
He argued that such sensitive issue like security should not be politicised in the manner the issue of Amotekun has been twisted.
The retired security officer added that Nigeria can only survive its present security challenges through effective community policing.
Meanwhile, the governor of Osun State, Mr Gboyega Oyetola has cautioned residents of the state against giving religious colouration to the issue of Amotekun, as he described the initiative as a welcome development.
This was contained in a press statement signed by his media aide, Mr Ismail Omipidan, a copy of which was sent to our Correspondent on Wednesday.
“To politicise the concept of Amotekun on the altar of religion and ethnicity will be unhealthy, dangerous and counterproductive.
“Amotekun is a collective response by the South West region to the spate of armed banditry, rape, kidnapping, and other violent crimes that suddenly became a past time in the South West.
“To, therefore, claim that it is an agenda against a particular faith or adherents of a particular religion is not only preposterous but also in bad taste.
“Kidnapping, rape and armed banditry have no religion and know no tribe or ethnicity.
“For the records, no recruitment has been carried out so far, especially in our dear State of Osun. So, rather than constitute ourselves into opposing a project we all clamoured for in response to existential threats for which some of the governors in the region have been called out and vilified in the past, we should rally support for Amotekun by coming up with strategies to fine-tune it with a view to bridging any communication gap between the Federal Government and the South West Governors over it.
“Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is clear that the security of lives and property of citizens as well as their welfare is the primary purpose and responsibility of government, be it state or federal.
“The State of Osun is committed to protecting its citizens; and every reasonable and responsible Osun indigene must join our collective resolve as a government to protect our citizens and their property”, the statement read.