The Nigerian government on Thursday reached an amicable settlement with Governors of the Southwest region of the country on the formation of a security network for the area that had generated controversy and heated national debate.
“News Flash: FG, Southwest Governors agree on Amotekun”, Laolu Akande, a spokesman for Nigeria’s Vice President tweeted before the meeting ended.
A later statement by the government said the agreement was reached at a meeting by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and governors of the Southwestern states at the presidential villa in Abuja.
“… regard to the need for all hands to be on deck in addressing the security concerns across the country, it was agreed that the structure of Amotekun should also align with the Community Policing strategy of the Federal Government,” the presidency statement said.
The state governors had asked to see President Muhammadu Buhari over the controversy surrounding the Amotekun initiative that saw many people supporting or opposing the new security arrangement with some calling it a subtle act of secession by Southwestern leaders. Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who comes from same region, hosted the meeting.
“It was also agreed that necessary legal instruments will be put in place by each of the States to give legal backing to the Amotekun initiative and address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure,” the presidency announced in the statement.
The country’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami had declared twice in statements last week and earlier on Thursday that the outfit was illegal.
He called for its disbandment saying his office was never consulted and that there was no law backing such an initiative.
“No amount of effort to hide the truth will work. People could be carried away by sentimental or emotional inclinations, but the truth remains apparently palpable. The bottom line is that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not accommodate the formation of regional security architecture,” Malami said in a statement before the meeting began in Thursday.
– Heated debates across the country –
As the debate generated into rallies and protests mainly in Southwestern states, leaders across Nigeria intervened and urged caution on the parts of federal and state authorities as well as sponsored groups.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar waded into the national discourse by advising the Nigerian government to allow for such regional or local security arrangements to safeguard lives as the insecurity in the country has become too burdensome for the police and other security agencies keeping them overwhelmed.
Atiku backed the establishment of Amotekun stating that such a local security outfit would assist the police, armed forces and paramilitary bodies in securing the nation.
He added that the right to self-defence, enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter is a right that nobody has the authority to criminalize the protection of human life.
“The right to self-defence, including the right to combat terror, is guaranteed by international law, enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, of which Nigeria is a signatory”, Atiku said.
After being accused of a loud silence on a matter that he would have been throwing arrows at federal authorities if his party was not the ruling party, leader of the region and National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, finally spoke on the matter calling for dialogue between governors of Southwest states and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Tinubu said he did not believe that the Western Nigeria Security Network or “Amotekun” was intended to put the country at risk and maintained that dialogue between the two parties would address the grey areas.
“Those claiming that this limited, inoffensive addition to security threatens the Republic have taken themselves upon a madcap excursion.
“Those claiming the federal government seeks to terribly suppress the South West have also lost their compass,” the Southwest leader said.
Tinubu said “those who occupy these two extremes have sunken into the dark recesses of fear and political paranoia that can undo a country if such sentiments are allowed to gestation. This issue (Amotekun) has dominated recent discourse and media headlines. Distilled to its basics, it concerns how best state governments can assist with the safety and security of their residents,” the APC leader said.
After the meeting on Thursday, Attorney General Malami, surrounded by Southwest governors was asked to address journalists but he instead asked Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo to speak and remained silent despite the barrage of questions thrown at him.
Akeredolu told State House correspondents they have used political and legal solutions to arrive at conclusions.
Political observers are hoping that this new development will help to reopen the national discourse on constitutional reforms that should see more powers devolved to the states, a clamour known as “fiscal federalism” that has been the major singsong of many politicians from southern Nigeria.
