Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has alleged that Lagos State refused to establish the South-West security outfit, Amotekun, because President Bola Tinubu did not support the initiative at the time.
Makinde made the claim on Friday while speaking at a joint mega rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan.
The governor said the South-West governors initially pushed for the creation of state police but later settled for Amotekun after failing to secure federal approval for a decentralised policing system.
“We wanted state police. It was because we couldn’t get state police that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” Makinde said.
He criticised the Federal Government over delays in approving state police, insisting that Nigerians were being deceived about the possibility of creating decentralised policing structures.
According to him, state governments do not need to wait endlessly for approval from the Inspector-General of Police or federal authorities before taking action to secure their regions.
Makinde explained that the South-West states coordinated through their various Houses of Assembly to legalise the Amotekun corps in 2020.
“The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos State, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun,” he stated, referring to Tinubu’s influence in Lagos politics.
The governor urged the Federal Government to empower state assemblies with the authority needed to establish state police, adding that such a system could become operational quickly if there is political will.
Makinde described insecurity as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria and noted that his administration prioritised security shortly after assuming office.
His comments come amid renewed security concerns in Oyo State following recent abductions in Oriire Local Government Area.
On May 15, gunmen reportedly attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esin-Ele/Yawota axis and abducted about 32 persons, including pupils, students and teachers. One of the abducted teachers was later killed by the kidnappers.
The governor maintained that stronger community-based security structures remain necessary to tackle rising insecurity across the country. NH
