Go to court, Amotekun has come to stay — Gov Akeredolu tells FG

Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu 

The chairman of the south-west governors’ Forum, governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has said the constitution does not prohibit the establishment of a regional security outfit.

Recall that the Federal Government on Tuesday broke silence over Southwest's decision to establish its own security outfit aimed at curbing insecurity within the region.



The Attorney Gneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami disclosed in a statement that the creation of Amotekun is unconstitutional, and therefore, illegal.

But in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, the Ondo state governor said the region will go ahead with the initiative.

“The Constitution does not prohibit us from doing what we are doing,” he said.




Akeredolu said the south-west governors will not adopt confrontation in resolving issues with the federal government.

However, he said it is the duty of the governors to protect their people, adding that the AGF should go to court if there is a perceived problem with the outfit.

“If the Attorney General made a statement, we will not go and say we want to be confrontational but after our meeting, we will take decisions as to what we will do. We don’t want any confrontation as such but we know that it is not in the place of the AGF to interpret laws. It is for the court,” he said.



“We are elected as governors to protect our people and that’s why we are the chief security officers in the state. So, it is for us to determine what we want to do for our people and we have taken that decision. Amotekun is going to go ahead, but like I said, we will meet and get back to you.”

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked the governors to ignore Malami , adding that the proscription of “Amotekun” by the federal government is hypocritical and discriminatory.