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Well, less than five days after the euphoria of the launch of Amotekun which received much more kudos than knocks, the Federal Government through her number one lawyer threw a huge spanner into the works. Amotekun, as well as he can understand the Constitution, has no peg to stand, and is thus an illegality. Though, a newspaper reported a rumoured meeting a day before the Thursday launch called by President Muhammadu Buhari, for the six South West governors to convince him about the reality and process of the security initiative, it is clear that the Federal Government do not find the Amotekun razzmatazz a laughing matter.
The January 13, 2020 statement ascribed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Gwandu. It reads: “The setting up of the paramilitary organisation called “Amotekun” is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Air Force, including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria…As a consequence of this, no state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organisation or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts….”
Early reactions showed several blocs, interests and groups within the region, and few beyond, snapping at the FG’s stand. Even the different factions of Afenifere are unanimous in support of the governors. Many luminaries in law have also upbraided Malami, encouraging the governors to keep their advancing steps in lock, and not back down or break ranks, on account of the muscle-flexing of the FG. The consensus seems thus: let the accuser shun his toga of interpreter, judge and jury, and approach the courts for unambiguous interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution… a position I subscribe to heartily. Jurisprudence!
And the governors appear to have heeded the advice of their people. Well, at least, as at the middle of the week. The leader of the SW Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, chose a symbolic platform to respond to his silk-mate, Malami’s broadside. At the January 15, 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Akure, Ondo State, he basically challenged the tenets of federalism vis-a-vis security imperatives: “We the six south west governors are fully prepared to ensure that operation Amotekun succeeds… Amotekun is not a para-military outfit, the introduction of the security outfit is to compliment the efforts of other security agencies…We want to assure you that the activities of the personnel working for the outfit will be monitored and streamlined along their mandate of securing lives and property of people of Ondo State and entire Western Nigeria(,) and it will not be used for political purposes…”.
So, the gauntlet is thrown, the positions have been chiseled out… we look forward to the Judiciary to act as the Lioness of Justice who shall discern and dissect the finer details of this contention, and enrich our understanding and politics by adjudicating between the Leopards of the South West and Eagles (I resist the urge to use Hawks) of Abuja.
(The End)
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