By Ngozi Onyeakusi–Finally, the Federal Government has bowed to pressures accepting the security initiative by the South West, Amotekun. This followed an agreement reached Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with the South West Governors, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police.
A statement by Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the meeting at the instance of the governors, was able to get the FG abandon their hitherto hardline stance to shoot the initiative down and accept Amotekun, though with some proviso.
The statement, said the governors had requested a meeting with Buhari, over the dust raised by the introduction of the security scheme, but because the President is currently in London on a national assignment, he asked Osinbajo to handle the matter.
In the end the Federal Government, suggest measures to smoothen the rough edges after a unanimous resolution was reached on the way forward, including formalizing the initiative through the enactment of relevant laws to give it a legal teeth.
“Having 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.
“It was also agreed that necessary legal instruments will be put in place by each of the States to give legal backing to the initiative and address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure,” the statement read in part.