Why we won’t allow Amotekun stay – Miyetti Allah

Sequel to the condemnation that followed the formation of Southwest regional security organisation, codenamed Amotekun, a Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Miyetti Allah, has affirmed that the aim of forming the security outfit was to flush out the Fulani tribe from the region (Southwest.)

However, chairman of South West Governors Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, said fears being expressed by the Fulani group were misplaced and absolutely unnecessary.

This came on a day the former acting national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, threw his weight behind the regional security outfit, and called for dialogue among various groups, individuals, government and security agencies on how best to solve the security challenges the nation was currently going through. Leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Bauchi State, Alhaji Sadiq Ahmed, said weekend that the security outfit (Amotekun) lacked the legal framework to succeed. The elder statesman, who admitted that the nation was facing serious security threat, called for the restructuring of the security architecture in the country.

He said:  “I can tell you one thing, Amotekun will not last because it is indigenous, regionalised and lacks constitutional backing. The constitution has a ready-made provision for regular security with the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force. A regional security outfit like Amotekun is a breach of the constitution that will only breed problems and conflicts. ‘’Is there a doubt anywhere that the motive behind the establishment of Amotekun is to cleanse our tribe from the Southwest? It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide security, any parallel security outfit is illegal and unacceptable.”

The Miyetti Allah leader also called for the removal of service chiefs, saying they had performed below expectation, while also advocating the reform of the Nigeria Police to enable it to perform its duties effectively. ‘’I suggest that the President remove the service chiefs immediately because they have done nothing, despite trillions of Naira they have received in recent years. He should also reform the Police, Army and all other security agencies in the country.

“I hear people every time try to compare Amotekun to Hizba, and that irritates me. Hizba security outfit in the North is just an umbrella of an Islamic body only meant for Islamic affairs. It bears no resemblance to Amotekun or the motive behind its formation,” he added.

Reacting yesterday, Governor, Akeredolu, said:  “For the record, these fears are misplaced and absolutely unnecessary. As Nigerians, we have more to gain from our indivisibility as a nation.’’ Speaking through his Information and Orientation Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, in Akure, the governor said:  “We must de-emphasise those issues that tend to create gaps and take maximum advantage of those that can promote oneness and love.