FG should challenge Amotekun with relevant laws’

The chairman of South West Governors Forum (SWGF), Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the AGF was yet to support his claims with any sections of the Nigerian Constitution.

“One thing is clear, laws are not made in the office of the attorney- general; he can only interpret the laws and give positions of government on matters relating to the law,” he said.

Akeredolu who spoke during the commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at the Akure Cenotaph, in Ondo State, said there was no going back on Amotekun.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State also told journalists after visiting ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that Malami lacked powers to stop Amotekun.

“You don’t run a government on social media,” he said.

An international terrorism and intelligence expert, Dr Amaechi Nwaokolo, faulted the timing of the position.

“Why wait till this time? Where were they throughout the formative period of the outfit? The South West governors held security summits with federal government officials in attendance during which this issue was discussed so why now?”

“Governor Fayemi who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum is one of the closest to the presidency; so was there no communication between him and the presidency on the matter?” he asked.

While expressing reservations over the formation of such security outfits, he said people were left with no option than to resort to quasi security options because of failed promises by successive governments to reform the Nigeria Police.

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka said citizens have the right to defend themselves.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and National

federal

government’s

Coordinator of OPC, Gani Adams, in a letter to the AGF dated January 15, said it was unfortunate that rather than praise the governors of the South West, Malami was condemning their action thereby strengthening the hands of those who believe the federal government was against some sections of the country.

“As a lawyer and a Senior Advocate, you should know that you are not the law. You are only the attorney-general, not a court,” he said.

Also, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) while speaking in Lagos at the 16th Annual Gani Fawehinmi Lecture, with the theme, ‘Federalism and the Judiciary in Nigeria’, described the AFG’s declaration on Amotekun as discriminatory.

Falana said: “In the NorthEast region particularly Yobe and Borno, there is a civilian JTF, wellarmed; and sometimes when the soldiers are afraid they ask the civilian JTF to go and confront Boko Haram.”