Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has called out the federal Government over their double standards towards state security outfits in the Nation.
A video surfaced showing the Kastina security outfit openly obtaining Ak47 arms, while the Western Security Network was denied the right to bear arms by the federal government.
Akeredolu condemned this approach stating that denying Amotekun the rights to legitimately bear arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which we have been clamoring for.
“That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing one country, two systems solution to the national question.
“If the Katsina situation conferring advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged.”
Governor Akeredolu said Nigeria’s independence agreement was based on a democratic arrangement to have a federal state and devolved internal security mechanics. We must go back to that agreement.
According to the Akeredolu, the southwest is facing life threatening security challenges, hence it is a necessity for them to protect themselves.
In his words
“It is also a deliberate destruction of our agricultural sector. It is an existential threat. We want to reiterate, that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander.”
The statement announced that the Ondo government, under the doctrine of necessity, “have decided to fulfil its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them”.
“This is more so, given that the bandits have an unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. The State government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people.”