Tuesday- 8th June, 2021: Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to permit the governors in the South West to equip Amotekun Corps with sophisticated weapons, such as AK-47, to tackle rising insecurity, especially banditry and kidnapping in the geo-political zone.
He spoke against the backdrop of the massacre of more than 10 persons in Igangan in Ibarapa zone of Oyo State on Saturday night by gunmen suspected to be criminal Fulani herdsmen, whom residents of Ibarapa said had threatened many weeks ago that they would strike, and they eventually struck.
Makinde made the disclosure in the keynote address that he presented at the opening of a two-day 2021 Governor Seyi Makinde National Democracy Summit, with the theme: ‘The Future of Democracy in Nigeria,’ held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Makinde, who left the summit midway for Igangan, said he took responsibility for the incident, however, expressed frustration on the challenges being faced by governors that are called chief security officers of their states, but could not actually ask federal security agencies in their respective states to attend to security situation, without them getting clearance from Abuja.
The governor said the only way out is for the Federal Government to allow state police to come into reality for states to take charge of peculiar security challenges confronting them individually, adding that the state should be give power at the same time to control the natural resources in their states.
His words: “With what happened at Igangan, the people can hold me responsible for letting them down and when I go there, I will take responsibility because those killings were really needless. Even though I continue to take responsibility for the security situation in Oyo State, we all know that, in reality, the Commissioner of Police has to wait for orders from ‘above’ before taking specific actions to benefit the local population.
“So, looking at the federal security agencies here in Oyo State, they have to get clearance from the federal. We will continue to do our best. Here in the South West, we were able to kickstart Amotekun. But even with Amotekun, people ask how the killings happened. Were they not there? But we have several limitations to what Amotekun can do and even the firearms they can carry.
“You have dane guns and you are faced with people carrying AK-47. If it is in terms of investment, if we are given the authority, I will also buy AK-47 for Amotekun, if given the licence.”
Makinde noted that all and sundry need to fully appreciate that “state policing is a sure cure to our national development challenges. Anyone who has been involved in security at any level will tell you that policing is local. One of the reasons why the Western Nigeria Security Network, code-named Amotekun, is recording success is because members of the corps are drawn from the locality. They know the terrain and so can gather needed intelligence. Also, they can be held accountable by the local people because they know them.
“So, when state governors become the actual Chief Security Officers in charge of the security personnel in their states, they can quickly respond to security challenges.
Makinde noted further that “We are the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But our federalism exists in name only. Students of political history will tell you that what we have been practising is, in fact, a unitary system of government – where more powers are concentrated in the central government. Another thing that our political theorists will tell you is that by nature, a unitary system of government is better suited for small countries.
“Nigeria is not a small country. So, you can easily identify why we are experiencing developmental challenges across the board. We are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. For true federalism to thrive, the federating units should have more powers and autonomy. The government at the centre serves as a coordinator of assets but does not wield as much power.”
The summit was also graced by dignitaries including former governor of Edo State, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor; former Minister of State for Agriculture, Otunba Bamidele Dada; Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Eghosa Osaghae; President of Apex Yoruba self-determination group, Prof Banji Akintoye; Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide; and former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who is the Chairman of South West Governors’ Forum, was represented by the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General for the state, Charles Titiloye; while Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Charles Akinola. The Attorney-General of Ogun State, Gbolahan Adeniran was also in attendance.
The first day of the summit also featured four plenary sessions on: Towards a more effective federalism in Nigeria, insecurity and conflict as threats to Nigeria’s democratic future, can there be a case for state constitutions in Nigeria?, and fiscal federalism and national development. Most of the speakers also supported calls for practice of true federalism in the country and specifically requested for a new people’s constitution, describing the 1999 Constitution as fraudulent, and must be replaced for the country to move forward.
