Barely an hour after making his delayed position known on the Federal government’s declaration of South West Security outfit, otherwise known as Amotekun known, National Leader of All Progressive Congress,(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has received several knocks and hailings from South West leaders, political activists and some of the South West governors behind the establishment of the outfit, which has ruffled not a few power and political feathers especially the Northern political establishment on whose support, he is said to be counting on for his rumoured Presidential ambition in 2023. Here are what the people have to say:
Chris Adetayo:
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has had his say on Amotekun. He is a politician, a skilled one at that. And he issued a political statement that gave both sides of the divide something to celebrate. It is what politicians do when they have a lot to lose in matters of these nature. They equivocate.
It is good that he has come out now. But it is also the case that, not wanting to rock the boat, he has chosen to berate those who did not start the squabble. Those of us for Amotekun did not start the fight. Had elements from some sections (interests and geography) not taken it upon themselves to criticise the concept, had the country’s Attorney-General not taken it upon himself to issue a gratuitous opinion piece on the subject, it is doubtful if the polity would have been as heated as it has over the past couple of weeks.
If the AG (and by extension, the Federal Government) really meant well, there was no need for that Press Statement. It was unnecessary provocation and deserved the response that it got. The primary purpose of Govt is to preserve lives and properties. By extension, any programme that will help to deliver on this fundamental purpose deserves far better than for a public official sitting in Abuja to immediately attempt to strike it down. Federations do not work that way. Most certainly not Federal democracies.
Many in the SW are unhappy about the Nigerian Federation. It is, essentially, a Unitary system masquerading as a Federation, all thanks to long years under military dictatorship on whose given laws we still operate. Still, very few will like to see the country dismembered. The SW, as history bears out, is the only one that has never had any separatists inclinations. The North sought to leave Nigeria in 1966. The East formally did in that same decade. The Niger Delta has only been calmed after more than a decade of restiveness. But the SW, inspite of its misgivings, has never. Not even during the monumental injustice of June 12. All its struggle has always been confined to building a truly Federal State where units can take responsibility for their own development. All it wants is a true Federation.
Given its history, the SW should be the least of anyone’s worry when it comes to secession. The idea that most supporters are pushing for Amotekun as a precursor to Nigeria’s dismemberment is ludicrous if not downright satanic. There is no basis for such an idea. If the idea is that allowing Amotekun might pave the way for others to set up similar, all the better. Federating units should be free to enter into partnerships that enhance the quality of lives of the people.
We thank the Jagaban for his statement. But we have no apologies to offer for our position. On Amotekun we still stand!!!
Bola Bolawole, front line journalist/columnist:
With due respect to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his statement on Amotekun, which has been deliberatively crafted, is a classic case of speaking from both sides of the mouth. He aprobates and reprobates at same time, trying to please both sides of a yawning divide. It was effectively a political statement, which might not have come from his soul. I agree that he should have looked before he lept. But I disagree that Amotekun is Neighborhood Watch 2. Nigeria is in more precarious state today than it was during Tinubu’s days as governor. So Amotekun without arms will be mere Boys’ Scout on parade. That will not address the existential problem that confronts the South-west today. Amotekun must bear arms. 2. Tinubu neglected to comment on other para-military forces like Hisbah, Civilian JTF in the North bearing arms. Why are they not causing jitters to Federal authorities but Amotekun is? Why is Amotekun the ones to be disarmed or will the others also stop or end bearing arms? These are the lacuna in Tinubu’s well crafted speech. So, it is not only the Southwest governors that must go back to the drawing board on Amotekun, Tinubu’s speech writers should similarly do!
Tinubu’s Both-Sides-Of-The-Mouth Statement on Amotekun
By Farooq Kperogi
Tinubu’s run-with-the-hare-and-hunt-with-the-hounds statement on Amotekun pretends to be statesmanlike and evenhanded but it actually only cleverly conceals its attempt to please the Aso Rock cabal. Only people with subnormal cognitive capacities will fail to see this.
Why didn’t he exercise this sort of even temper when he asked “where are the cows?” after Chief Reuben Fasoranti’s daughter was murdered in cold blood by people alleged to be herders? Tinubu might well have been right that the woman wasn’t murdered by herders, but he couldn’t have known that for sure since no investigation had been carried out. And he said it when emotions were still aflame.
Plus, herders who choose to murder don’t take cows to the murder scene, which made his sarcastic question at once pointless, insensitive, and unstatesmanlike. Incidentally, it’s the intensification of senseless, unresolved murders such as the one he taunted that inspired the formation of Amotekun.
Tinubu’s neither-here-nor-there statement mirrors the duplicity and opportunism of his symbolic actions on Amotekun. For example, neither Sanwo-Olu nor his deputy, who are both beholden to him, attended the formal launch of Amotekun, and Lagos was the only Southwest state where an Amotekun solidarity rally was disrupted by the police. These actions clearly typify opposition to the security outfit.
At the same time, Tinubu’s minions in the intelligentsia and his battering rams in the news media have come out strongly against the federal government’s—and some northern politicians’—opposition to Amotekun.
In wanting to opportunistically appease both sides in the service of his illusive 2023 presidential bid, Tinubu will appease none.
The cold, calculating inner circle in Aso Rock is intensely aware that Tinubu’s fence-sitting is an insincere, self-seeking political maneuver to appease them, and the Southwest people who were compelled to embrace Amotekun by the escalating sense of siege that unceasing mass murders by homicidal thugs have activated would be unimpressed by his ambiguity and lack of moral clarity.
People who are neither here nor there end up being nowhere, and, with time, nowhere becomes somewhere untoward.
Ayo Olesin-from his Facebook wall
Amotekun and Tinubu:
It’s understandable that many Yoruba feel Tinubu sat on the fence in his statement…but what really did we expect? That he spits fire and blood…naa…that’s a trap he avoided.
Tinubu is no Awolowo…but having gained experience in dealing with the Northerners…even if some Yoruba have condemned him as an Afonja…the fact remains that one has to take caution in killing an ant attached to the scrotum.
My only take away really is the mention of Federalism with Amotekun as a possible first step…APC promised that but his partners up North binned that till now. He pointed to another opportunity to “adjust ourselves” before 2023…
The grave error is for other nationalities…who have felt unserved by the current Federalism…to now sit back and watch Telemundo… and say it’s Yoruba’s turn to fight alone despite June 12.
I think we have now, a momentum for real change…
Personally…I think that Nigeria can fare excellently well..if we focus more on baking..rather that sharing the cake..
Let’s just sit and talk…all of us..Ayo olesins wall
‘You’re still neutral’, Afenifere faults Tinubu’s statement on Amotekun
Afenifere Yoruba socio cultural organisation:
Tinubu’s position on Amotekun is a “dubious exercise in self-seeking sophistry and equivocation.”
Yinka Odumakin,national publicity secretary:
Maybe he should have keep quite. This is not the time to speak in a forked tonque.What is the reason?You are afraid of Buhari? In 2001,when there was crisis between herdsmen and farmers,what did Buhari do?He went to Ibadan and told Governor Lam Adesina,your people are killing my people?
In 2013,what did Buhari do? He told President Jonathan you can’t declare amnesty while killing Book Haram.Attack against Boko Haram is an attack against North”.
We are being killed for months,our women are being raped.Now,our governors are taking a token measure to secure our people. At this point, if you can’t speak for the people,it is better to keep quiet.We are not impressed.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo,Afenifere leader: He only came out to react because of his aspiration to be President in 2023.he would not say anything that would contradict Buhari.
Kole Omololu, the National Secretary of Afenifere:
Reacting to the statement, Kole Omololu,National Secretary of Afenifere said the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was playing “political neutrality” at the detriment of security and unity of Yorubas in the South-West.
In a statement made available to pressmen, the Afenifere Secretary described Tinubu’s statement on Amotekun as a pile of waffle, adding that the politician “refused to comment on other para-military forces like Hisbah and civilian JTF in the north.”
Omololu’s statement reads, “His Excellency, Asiwaju’s statement is what is called political correctness. Leaders should talk boldly on a precarious situation.
“Asiwaju refused to comment on other para-military forces like Hisbah and civilian JTF in the north.
“He did not read between the lines that the AGF’s statement is that of panic. Panic in the sense that the Amotekun phenomena unify the Yoruba Nation, regardless of political affiliations.
“It has the total and absolute support of all the children of Oduduwa and also other nationalities apart from the Fulanis.
“It is a unity that is dangerous for a government that is nepotic and whose agenda on true federalism is not clear.
“The Yoruba Nation is an utterly and incredibly resilient one. We are focused and not dissuaded by any statement by one million Bola Ahmed Tinubu when we know we are just and sincere.
“Asiwaju’s statement is a pile of waffle, a dubious exercise in self-seeking sophistry and equivocation.”
Since Amotekun was launched by South-west governors on Wednesday, January 9, 2020, the security initiative has been embroiled in many controversy’s.
However,it was not all knocks for the APC leader and former Lagos state governor as chairman of the South West governors forum and Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said:
We have to commend our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu,for his comments.As a leader who loves his people, he has made objective observations in his statement.In the comment,he could see that the operation Amotekun can never be a threat to the unity of the country and that the people of the South west needed to be protected by their governors.Also,all other issues he pointed out in the statement would be looked into.But,he has spoken well.
Development Agenda for Western Nigeria(DAWN):
Head special projects and funding,Prince Adetayo Adeleke Adedoyin said the comment of Tinubu on Amotekun was well conceived adding, “Asiwajus comment on operation Amotekun is welcomed. He is from the region and he is a national leader.
Muyiwa Olumilua,Ekiti information commissioner:
Asiwaju is entitled to his opinion just like any other person but I stand firmly by every single detail of what governor Kayode Fayemi had said as regards Amotekun.Amotekun does not in any way violate the constitution.it is just a way of further strengthening the security architecture in the South West. Nothing more”.
