The Osun Masterminds has called for the Federal Government’s approval of arms for the Amotekun Corps to tackle insecurity in the country, AMILOADED reports.
The Osun Masterminds, in a press conference addressed by its Executive Director, Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Thursday, said in the absence of State Police, theAmotekun Corps has aided the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in no small measure, in maintaining the security of lives and property in the country.
The group said the security outfit must be allow to bear arms after thorough training, saying this will help them apprehend criminals more effectively.
“We do not think that present security challenges should be left to the Nigeria Police Force alone as the Force is not just understaffed, but is also lacking in some critical areas of native intelligence that the Amotekun Corps can easily provide cover for,” it said.
Speaking on the proposed conduct of local government in Osun State, the group said the “only way our Local Governments can ever deliver true value to the people is if there are elected officials in the Councils, who are directly answerable to the people who hand them mandates.”
“Elected council officers also have constitutional powers vested in them to manage resources of the Local Governments for optimal delivery of democratic dividends. This need, makes the conduct of Local Government elections a compulsory necessity.
“While we understand the above and the implications it has to the delivery of good governance to people at the grassroots, we also believe very strongly that the process that will facilitate the election of men and women into this critical arm of government, must be near-perfect, if perfection is completely impossible. It must be right in the eyes of the law and must be legally fair to all concerned.
It is in the light of this that we have closely monitored the legal brickbats between the State Independent Electoral Commission and the Peoples Democratic Party, over the latter’s efforts to ensure the Local Government election does not hold, owing to their already expressed lack of confidence in OSSIEC’s willingness to conduct a free, fair and credible election.
“While we understand that there has been no Court judgment stopping OSSIEC from conducting the Local Government election, we still want to urge the Commission to ensure that its activities and plans for the process of election are not unfair to any of the parties concerned. All legal requirements for the election must be followed to the letters and all parties carried along in the rundown to the said election.
“The electoral umpire must also ensure that it does not posture as being a mere tool in the hands of any political party, but an unbiased umpire providing a level playing ground for all political parties to participate,” The Osun Masterminds added.
The group, however, called on the general public to ensure that there “is no breakdown of law and order in the process of participating in the election, “ noting that the local government “is a critical arm of governance and citizens must ensure that the smooth running of its operations is not derailed with violence and/or anarchy.”
It further warned politicians in the state against blackmail and accusations on Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, ahead of the government transition in the state.
The group said, “It must be stated that until the 27th day of November, 2022, the mandate handed to Gov. Gboyega Oyetola remains valid and he in turn remains answerable to the people that he swore to govern. He must therefore be allowed to perform his duties till the last day in office, without needless blackmail, distractions and accusations. He must work in that office until the last day of his mandate and must be so respected as Governor until that date.
“We believe that regard begets regard. The incoming political camp must understand that they must accord the incumbent due regards, as they desire to also be accorded when they get into office.
“We are also compelled to advise the incumbent to ensure that it works closely with the incoming Governor’s camp, to ensure smooth transition that will guarantee continuity of critical government policies and ensure the continued prosperity of the state’s people.”
Speaking on illegal mining and insecurity in Osun State, The Osun Masterminds said, “We acknowledge the large extent of illegal mining ongoing in several communities in the State. While this has birthed fearful environmental concerns, it is also birthing grave security concerns in the host communities and the State at large.
“The manpower driving the reckless illegal mining ongoing in those parts of the State have been sourced through fearful migration of questionable characters into the State. These artisans and workmen are known to be armed and violent in most cases and they have the potential of becoming terrorists in the State.
“We cannot continue to hope that this almost-manifesting terrorism tendencies will not become a complete collapse of security of lives in the State. We must take proactive measure to not only curb the influx of illegal miners into the State, but also ensure that we secure our State by putting a permanent stop to the process of illegal mining that keeps attracting criminal elements into the State.
“While we congratulate the AIG Wale Olokode on his recent promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, we must also put it before him that the security threats in the areas of the State where illegal mining is ongoing and those other security threats like cultism and political thuggery scattered around the State, are tests of his mettle and capacity as a gallant Police Officer.
“The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force must rise to the occasion to ensure that the present threats to our security do not become full blown problems that may turn the State inside out. We must not fold our arms and watch illegal mining attract Boko Haram and ISWAP members into the State.”
While speaking on the second year memorial of the #EndSARS protest, The Osun Masterminds, said the incidence of October 20, 2020, must never be allowed to occur again “as we must guarantee the rights of every citizen of the country to gather and make their voices heard.”
“We will use the opportunity to commend the incumbent, Alh. Gboyega Oyetola, for his mature handling of a potentially catastrophic occurrence and his eventual approval for the payment of damages to persons whose police brutality cases were established to be true. History will remember that he took sides with justice and fair play at that critical time in our history.
“As we commemorate the protest this year, we also enjoin critical youth stakeholders to ensure that the commemoration is made to be about sober reflections and dialogue, instead of violent actions that may disrupt the peace,” the group noted.
