Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday, declared that his government under the doctrine of necessity would fulfil its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State by acquiring arms to protect them.
This is just as the governor condemned the Federal Government approving for Katsina State security outfit to bear arms despite denying Amotekun such an opportunity.
Akeredolu, in a statement he signed, said legitimately bearing arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which people have been clamouring for.
He questioned that if the Katsina security outfit is allowed to carry or bear arms to protect its people, why won’t the Amotekun in the Southwest region should not be allowed to carry sophisticated weapons to protect the people?
“The video making the rounds showing the equivalent of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) in Katsina, obtaining the approval of the Federal Government to bear arms is fraught with great dangers.
“Denying Amotekun the urgently needed rights, to legitimately bear arms, is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which we have been clamouring for.
“That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing one country, two systems solution to the national question.”
Akeredolu further stated that “If the katsina situation conferring advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged.
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“The Independence agreement was based on a democratic arrangement to have a federal state and devolved internal security mechanics. We must go back to that agreement.
“Denying Amotekun the right to bear arms exposes the Southwest to life-threatening marauders and organized crime. It is also deliberate destruction of our agricultural sector. It is an existential threat.
“We want to reiterate that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. Ondo state government under the doctrine of necessity have decided to fulfil its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them.
“This is more so, given that the bandits have unchecked access to sophisticated weapons.
“The state government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people.”
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