FANI-KAYODE’S STANCE ON AMOTEKUN IS DESERVING OF COMMENDATION AND SUPPORT…… ONUESOKE

”The security of lives and property of the people has gone beyond what should be left alone with the federal government.  At this point in time, critical stakeholders must come together to forge a common front against insecurity”….. Onuesoke

“Amotekun, as a concept birthed by the Yoruba Governors of South West Nigeria due to threats to security of lives and property, is a way to curb the menace of banditry, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other criminal activities that has ravaged the region in recent times”. 

Chief Sunny Onuesoke is a respected voice in the political sphere in delta state, South-south Nigeria.

As a politician, environmental expert, public commentator and philanthropist, Sunny Onuesoke has never shied away from commenting on national issues that borders on the lives of the people.

In a recent interview granted to a national daily as regards the decision of the Governors of the South West states of Nigeria to establish its own security network, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain stressed that the South-South must wake up to the current reality of event in the country.

According to the PDP chieftain, ”the security of lives and property of the people has gone beyond what should be left alone with the federal government.  At this point in time, critical stakeholders must come together to forge a common front against insecurity”.

“The South-South, as matter of urgency must come together to adopt the necessary framework on how to secure the lives and property of our people. It is not out of place to have a local security outfit like the Amotekun. However, enabling laws and legislation should be fast-tracked to avoid unnecessary controversy as we are currently witnessing with Amotekun of South-West”, he stated.

Tasked on the ‘Amotekun’ as a signal or part of the restructuring that PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohaneze, Middle Belt groups that has been on the front burner of national discuss in the country over the past years, Onuesoke insisted that, “Amotekun and restructuring, are two worlds apart”.

According to him, “Amotekun, as a concept birthed by the Yoruba Governors of South West Nigeria due to threats to security of lives and property, is a way to curb the menace of banditry, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and other criminal activities that has ravaged the region in recent times”.

“Amotekun is just a security outfit for the South-west States to complement the present security system we have in the country with an operational mandate to serve as a complementary intelligence gathering outfit to the Nigerian security agencies to better safe guard the lives and property of the people of the South West Region”.

On what should be the demand by the federal government for the restructuring of the ‘Amotekun’, Onuesoke reiterated that, “the provision of security is one of the key functions of any responsible and responsive government”.

“It is the priority of the various states governors to ensure that both indigenes and settlers living within the various states can carry out their rightful activities in a safe and secure environment.

Therefore,  security of their lives and properties should be of paramount importance to the governors hence, what the federal should demand, is the fast tracking of laws and legislature  that would ensure a smooth guideline and operation of the security outfit set-up by these governors”, he stated.

“It has been stated that Amotekun is not a replacement for the Nigerian police but rather, a complimentary architecture for intelligence gathering to better safe guard the lives and properties of the people”. 

Reacting to questions as to what the governors of the South-south should do, considering their seemingly disorganized position on issues of security concerns in their various states, Onuesoke advised that the South-South Governor must come together under the umbrella body of the South-South Governors Forum to chart a new course of action with a unity of purpose for the region. And, this must be done across party lines and affiliations, he stressed.

“They must put the overall interest of the region first before anything else. Unfortunately, the body language of the Governors from the South-South region has not shown any promising light in that direction”.

“Without doubt, if our governors (South-South) can come together beyond politics and party line, to forge a common front for the development of the region, South-south would be the envy of other region across the nation due it abundance of wealth and natural resources”.

Speaking further on the issue of security, especially in the South-west states, particularly as it relates to the setting up of a security outfit similar to ‘Amotekun’, Chief Sunny Onuesoke aligned with the position of Nigeria’s former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

Chief Fani-Kayode who was a guest recently on a national television programme, had stated that "Amotekun has come to stay”.

“If this government, lead by the Fulanis, had the guts to call their people; the Fulani Herdsmen, to order nobody will think of Amotekun", he had stated.

Onuesoke noted that FFK’s commendation of the South-west governors for initiating Amotekun, is very much in order and this must be supported by all peace loving Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion.

Condemning the killings in the South-west as it has attained a worrisome dimension, Chief Onuesoke expressed concerns over the inability of the nation’s security agencies to address the ugly situation that is spreading across the country.

He stated that it will be unfortunate for any sane Nigerian to speak against the establishment of ‘Amotekun’ and therefore, sided with the former Aviation Minister who said that; "Anyone that is not happy with the Amotekun initiative should go to court.

Chief Onuesoke declared his support  for the stance of Femi Fani-Kayode who stated that “the Amotekun initiative is to protect, not only the Omo Oduduwas in the South West, but everyone residing in the South West; either indigenes or visitors, irrespective of ethnicity or religion".

He therefore called for support and understanding for the establishment of such laudable programme that will provide security for all.