Amotekun: You got it wrong, Agbakoba, Falana, Makinde tell FG

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Leading silks – Dr Olisa Agbakoba and rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana-Wednesday said the South-west governors were right under the law with the formation of a regional outfit known as Amotekun.

Contrary to the federal government’s position that it was not in the know, the SANs said the governors needed not consult with the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubaka Malami, SAN, before fashioning out initiatives to give necessary security to their various states.

Malami, had Tuesday, faulted the formation of the regional security outfit, saying it was a contravention of the law.

But speaking at the 16th Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) Annual Lecture/ Symposium (Fawehinmiism) organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in Ikeja, Lagos, Agbakoba, a former NBA president said the governors never contravened the law.

He said: “What they are doing is not policing but security measures. The Inspector-General of Police was involved when they started but I don’t know what happened and he backed out. Maybe they had a re-think.”

Agbakoba, who was the guest lecturer at the event, said the nation’s present constitution granted enormous powers to the governors that were yet to be exhausted.

“We all need to have the Gani spirit. Maybe, the association of Attorney Generals would need to go to court on the matter (Amotekun) to determine who is wrong,” the lawyer said.

The former NBA president remarked that the way restructuring of the country was been canvassed was wrong and that was why no progress has been made.

On restructuring, Agbakoba said: “We need to lower the temperature of the language. We need to convince our Northern brothers that restructuring will not break Nigeria but that it will benefit everybody, that it will make the regions more powerful and independent.”

Also speaking, Mr. Falana said the governors’ action was in order with what the constitution demands of them on their people’s welfare and security.

He noted that the only prohibition against any group was in section 22 of the constitution which said nobody shall set up a military wing.

On restructuring, the rights activist said it was no longer a southern affair, and berated the  All Progressives Congress (APC) which prioritised restructuring in its manifesto and even set up a committee to that effect,  for no longer looking in that direction.

In his remarks, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, said:  “The Rule of Law must at all times and in all situations be observed. The test of the maturity of any democracy can be measured by the preparedness of its organs to observe the Rule of Law even in extremely difficult situations.

“The Bar, on its part, must also not relent in performing its role as the “guardian angel” of the independence of the Judiciary. It is axiomatic that the Bar is a major casualty of an attack on the Judiciary.

“When the Judiciary is cowed by the Executive, the Bar suffers because litigants, who are clients of lawyers, are not able to obtain, from the Judiciary, decisions which are rendered by courts constituted in such a manner as to secure their independence and impartiality which is an essential ingredient of the right to fair hearing guaranteed by the constitution.”

Akeredolu

Also, the Chairman, South-west Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Wednesday said operation Amotekun has come to stay in the region.

He said governors in the region were prepared to pursue the initiative to a logical conclusion.

The governor spoke at the 2020 Armed forces Remembrance Day celebration held at Alagbaka cenotaph Akure, the state capital.

“Governors in the region are committed to the success of Amotekun to checkmate cases and incidences of banditry, kidnapping, farmers and herders clashes across the region, while we the governors are ready to see to a logical conclusion the project,” the governor said.

He reiterated that the operation was not a paramilitary outfit, saying the introduction of the security outfit was to compliment the efforts of other security agencies in the region at ensuring peace, tranquility and development in the region.

AGF lacks the power -Makinde

Similarly, Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde   has berated AGF Malami over his comment on Amotekun, saying he lacked such power.

He spoke to journalists Wednesday shortly after a closed door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

Makinde arrived in company of his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni and Senator Hosea Agboola, at exactly 2.15pm and went straight into a closed door meeting which lasted about two hours.

The governor did not give details of his discussion with Obasanjo.

Makinde said: “My personal position is that you actually don’t run a government on the social media. If I see a letter or if I get a call from the AGF telling me what you (journalists) just said, then it will be a different type of reaction.”

He added, “I have been reading it just like you read it on the social media. I haven’t seen anything official to that effect yet. Besides, I don’t think for a country like Nigeria, the AGF will just wake up and make his own laws.

“He (AGF) may interpret and advise the President (Mohammadu Buhari) if there are legal issues, but I haven’t seen anything that gives that power to the AGF to make such declaration.”

Ondo farmers drum support

Meanwhile, farmers in Ondo state under the auspices of Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association (OSACA) have described Malami’s declaration as unacceptable.

Addressing newsmen at their secretariat at Trade Fair Centre, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the state capital, the farmers stated that the AGF’s position was unacceptable to them.

In an address by their Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Obaweya, the farmers declared: “We say in clear terms that the declaration of Amotekun as an illegality is totally unacceptable to us. The formation and launch of Amotekun brought a ray of hope to us as farmers and agropreneurs for a few days, but alas, an attempt is being made to dash all our hope.

“For years, we have sought peaceful means of protecting our farmlands and investments with very little success. Any attempt to shoot down this beacon of hope is a recipe for chaos and civil unrest.

“Will the pauperised farmer, distressed investor not be pushed to violence if they believe they have nobody to protect them.”

 “We support the security outfit, Amotekun; we reject any proclamation that it is illegal; we demand that the national body of Miyetti Allah be called to order; farmers who have been victims should be compensated,” the farmers further said.

Agoro

Holding a similar position, a former presidential candidate of the National Action Council (NAC), Dr Olapade Agoro said the security outfit was established in line with section 14 – (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Agoro faulted the federal government’s position, saying Operation Amotekun is realistic and in  “tandem with the provision of 1999 as Amended Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria that states at “Section 14 –(1) that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”  

“The necessity of placing high better value on human lives on doubt spurred the six executive governors of the South-west states into thinking the concept Amotekun as the way out and a necessity for preservation of lives and property of the good Yoruba people.

Amotekun’ concept one can reason out is a timeouts phenomenon of needs and necessity. It is a realistic tandem with the provision of 1999 as Amended Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria that states at “Section 14 –(1) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” , he said.   

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