There wouldn't be a need for Amotekun if you did your job — Soyinka tells Buhari

The controversy surrounding the creation of Amotekun has gotten almost everyone talking especially prominent people in the country including former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.



The Buhari administration through the Attorney Gneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday, declared the Southwest security outfit as unconstitutional and thus illegal.

The statement by the AGF, sparked reactions across the polity as Nigerians wonder why similar security outfits in the North are considered as legal.


Fani Kayode in an earlier post, disagrees with the Buhari administration saying constitutional provisions must not be applied when it satisfies certain interests.

He said the Hisbah Police in North West cannot be constitutional while Amotekun is not. Same with the Civilian Joint Task Force in North West and Civilian Joint Task Force in North East.




Prof. Wole Soyinka seem to be drawn into the debate saying according to a report by TheCables, that the Southwest is simply doing what the Buhari administration failed to do, and that the AGF needs to take a nap.

Soyinka said, “Amotekun is a result of meetings to curb menace in the region. Some people who have been sleeping all this time, taking belated actions while villages are been wiped out are now telling us this…that people do not have right to flush out the evil ones among them which the exiting security outfits have not been able to do.



“I think they should go back to sleep because Amotekun has come to stay,” he added.

The statement by the AGF reads: “The setting up of the paramilitary organisation called Amotekun is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law.


“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the army, navy and air force, including the police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria.


“As a consequence of this, no state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organisation or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts."