The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has assured the people of the state that there would be no more room for criminalities in the state.
He said this on Tuesday at the Passing Out Parade of the pioneer set of the Ondo State Security Network Agency; otherwise known as ‘Amotekun Corps‘ at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
At the inauguration of the Corps, the Governor stressed the need for a workable synergy among the leadership of the security agencies and that of Amotekun, and also, water-tight strategies capable of arresting crimes even before they occur.
Arakunrin Akeredolu stressed that the operations of the Amotekun Corps will be of complimentary roles to the efforts of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies. He however admonished the Officers of the Amotekun Corps to live above board; while assuring them of the cooperation and support of the relevant stakeholders; from the government, to traditional rulers and the various security agencies in the state.
The Governor recalled that many people felt he was putting his second term ambition on the line when the Amotekun Corps was launched in Ibadan in January this year.
”And I told them, time and again, that my ambition is not worth the insecurities that our people are confronted with, where at some point, people were afraid of travelling out of the State.”
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“It was so horrible that marauders laid siege to the highways, as well as in the farmlands, waiting to kidnap or devour anyone in sight. With the launch of Amotekun, we resolved that it shall be no retreat, no surrender. We are not going to be intimidated or blackmailed,” Akeredolu said.
Governor Akeredolu, who expressed his readiness to champion the course of a better, safer and prosperous society and country, said he was determined not to pay lip service to the constitutional role of government, which is to seek the welfare and protection of the lives and property of the people.
He said: “It is incontrovertible that the existing security framework is being overstretched and we had to device a means of confronting the challenge of insecurity head-on. That was when the concept of Amotekun came up. As Yorubas, we are not known to surrender to our adversaries and if our forebears did not, we should not.”
“On 4th March, this year, just two months after the launch of Amotekun in Ibadan, the Bill setting up the Corps was signed into law, after diligent and thorough work by the State House of Assembly. The import of this is that Amotekun Corps is now a legal entity, not just the idea of an individual.”
“As noted at the launch, it is not a parallel security structure to any of the security agencies. Rather, it is to complement what is on ground so that together they can achieve the goal of a safer environment, conducive enough to encourage foreign investors and rid our State of all forms of crime and criminally-minded elements.”
The Governor also reassured the people that the forthcoming election in the State would be very peaceful, adding that the state will not tolerate any form of thuggery or criminality occasioned by elections.
Traditional rulers including the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fedrick Obateru Akinrutan, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye and other prominent monarchs attended the event.
Heads of Security Agencies in the state, as well as religious leaders and other stakeholders, also graced the event.
© PRESENT NIGERIA
