The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), asked Southwest governors to ignore the directive of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) describing Operation Amotekun as illegal.
Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, representing the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, have declared that the new security outfit put together by the South Western Nigeria, code named “Amotekun”, to combat criminals, bandits and invaders is illegal.
This position was made public in the press release stating the federal government’s position on the security outfit launched last Thursday, was signed by Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, the Special Adviser, Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In swift reaction to the development, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), asked Southwest governors to ignore the directive of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) describing Operation Amotekun as illegal.
According to Sagay, he said the governors have no business consulting Malami before coming up with the idea of how best to secure their states or region, and nothing is unconstitutional or illegal about it.
Malami as the AGF, stated government position on the matter, however, the governors and leaders from South West have not react officially to the new directive.
Also reacting to Malami’s outburst is the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum(SMBLF), in a joint press statement issued and signed by Yinka Odumakin for South West, Gen CRU Iherike for South East, Senator Bassey Henshaw for South South and Dr Isuwa Dogo for Middle Belt. They slammed Federal government for promoting disunity.
The group questioned the FG, why they have not disband Hisbah and civilian joint task force, operational in the Northern Nigeria, but quick to go against “Amotekun”, the security outfit aimed at protecting the lives and properties of Southerners, frequently being attacked by invaders, bandits and other criminal elements.
The chairman of South West governors forum, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and his Osun State counterpart, Governor Gboyega Oyetola have promised to come up with a position on the matter in the coming days.
