National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has stated that the security outfit launched by South-West governors, Amotekun, is not a threat to national unity, but that the South-West governors need to engage Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, on it.
Tinubu in a statement, yesterday, said, “Those claiming that this limited, inoffensive addition to security threatens the Republic have taken themselves upon a madcap excursion.” Reacting to Tinubu’s comment, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, said it was on the same page with the APC leader.
Meanwhile, elder statesman and Afenifere chieftain, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide, were not too excited. National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, however, called on the North to be ready to start its own version of Amotekun in order to tackle the rising wave of insecurity in the region.
Also, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Muhamed, maintained that Tinubu ought to have got the party leaders and government together to assure them of the motive of Amotekun, saying he (Tinubu) got it wrong. This came as Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, stressed the need for public support in tackling insecurity, noting that kidnapping and armed banditry recognize no religion or ethnic groups.
Also, Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, Mr Seye Oyeleye noted that Amotekun is aimed at protecting all ethnic groups in South-West region.
Tinubu in the statement, said: “Those claiming that the Federal Government seeks to terribly suppress the South-West have also lost their compass. Those who occupy these two extremes have sunken into the dark recesses of fear and political paranoia that can undo a nation if such sentiments are allowed to gestate.
“Amotekun. This issue has dominated recent discourse and media headlines. Distilled to its basics, it concerns how best state governments can assist with the safety and security of their residents. This is a matter of serious concern entitled to sober thought. However, it has been turned into a political tug-of-war. Fierce, often unthinking rhetoric, for and against, has crossed the lips of too many Nigerians. More subjective talking than objective thinking has been the fuel of this outburst. Question those in favour of Amotekun. Most have but the vaguest notion about it. They know few details yet vigorously attribute to its opponents the most negative intentions. Ask those who oppose Amotekun. They are equally ignorant of its provisions. They oppose the initiative not on its merits but merely because it was proposed by their political opponents or because they don’t see an avenue for personal gain from it.
“While colourful, the rhetoric has been disconcerting. How people have mishandled this matter demonstrates that we still have far to go in perfecting this democracy. Too much energy has been spent distorting this issue instead of seeking a resolution that supports local enhancement of security while keeping the constitution intact. If this becomes the standard for how we handle disagreements then we will obscure Nigeria’s path forward with our own rubbish. In this matter, I do not see malign intent in the differences of opinion between the S’West governors as authors of Amotekun and the Attorney-General as the primary law enforcement officer of the Federal Government. Shorn of the overly dramatic language, what lies before us is but a step in the evolution of our federalism. This is an opportunity to more clearly define that federalism; but one cannot attain this better, more functional definition through overblown, emotional language.
“Objectivity and calmness are required. To a significant degree, the enduring quality of our republic will be established by the sagacity with which we handle disagreements regarding the division of power between federal and state governments. Such disagreements are inevitable. This is not the first, nor will it be the last. We must devote our energies more toward solving problems rather than amplifying them.
“Seeking to fulfill their mandates by helping protect their people, the governors of the South West collectively established a programme to buttress existing security mechanisms. Seeking to protect the constitution as best he could, the Attorney-General offered his opinion on what he believed the governors sought to do. No one can blame either party for seeking to fulfill what they genuinely see as their public duty. Until now, I have deliberately maintained a studied silence regarding Amotekun. Many have tried to goad my swift public reaction. Those who have taken this road did so not because they care about Amotekun or even the people it intends to help protect. They did so knowing this had become a delicate and emotional issue for many. These cynics did so with the adversarial hope that, in haste, I might misspeak or misstep in a manner they could twist to their political advantage.
“Equally, I do not cow to the demands of those who press for me to make a premature statement on an important issue. Again, that is a game devised by those who care more about political cleverness than the quality of governance. I chose to talk when my position has been made ripe by a collection of the facts and a reasonable assessment of those facts.”
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