The die is cast, and for stubborn matters like this sudden creation of “Amotekun”, resolving it may well be beyond the grip our forefathers. This is not an ordinary political contest; neither a handshake below the elbow- it is something akin to a supremacy fight between two powerful groups in the land called Nigeria.
Above the surface, the impending fight resembles a rivalry or tussle between two prominent security outfits; but beneath the surface lies a deeper meaning- your interpretation depending on which side of the land you come from-the north or the south.
What seemed to have spiked the open declaration for “Amotekun” may actually not be far from the oppressive rule and skewed appointments of the Buhari Administration to favour his ethnic stork. Buhari has not hidden his preference to appoint only people he can “trust”; but the trouble is: he is the President of Nigeria—and not the Northern States! And the Yoruba’s have had enough of this “push around”. Since President Buhari would not budge, enter “Amotekum”! So like it or not, “Amotekun” may well be a direct fallout from the actions of the Buhari Administration at daring the Yoruba.
Now the stage is set for the gladiators to test their resolve. The winner would ultimately eat the land the star prize for 2023. That’s how it works; something has to give to checkmate Buhari; if not, sooner or later as we have seen in boko haram”, the centre may explode, stressed Malam Ilyasu. In the coming days the argument for and against is expected to abate.
Operation Amotekun is the brain child of South West governors designed to stem and counter the increasing wave of blood shed arising from banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency and dare devil robbers within their region. ‘’Amotekun ‘’, they claim is a self-defensive project obviously the fallout from an incredibly poor leadership from the centre. The South West, as in indeed other parts of the country have increasingly resorted to self-help and protection as part of the measures to contain the spread of fear.
To date, Kano state has witnessed the rise of Hisbah security outfit, Anambra vigilante group, the OPC, IPOB and the vigilante security outfit in the North East. But in a rather twist of fate, the Attorney – General Abubakar Malami came out to condemn the act – a move regarded as very unpopular. And it is this vexed response that has drawn the ire of leaders around the nation.
The Attorney – General had based his argument on the fact that ‘’Amotekun’’ is not backed by law. The service chiefs too had appealed for a return to status-quo. But Chief Femi Falana, Chief Wole Soyinka, Comrade Yinka Odumakin all have said laws are not made in his office!
Amidst the flurry of attacks, the Rights Group of Midwest Professionals asked Malami to tell Nigerians which laws supports the appointment of service chiefs from one section of the country! They also asked him to spell out the law that allows for indefinite extension of service chiefs tenure. For now the huge question is: who will ease the tension already generated?
