The six western states of Nigeria inaugurate a security outfit named Amotekun to protect the southwestern states. Members of Odua People’s Congress (OPC) and other groups was recruited as members of this security outfit. Controversy has trailed the new security organization since it was inaugurated. The Northwest and Northeast geo-political zone are vehemently against the new security outfit. The North Central geo-political zone is muted in its opposition. The Southeast, South South geo-political zones are generally supportive of the effort. The two zones may eventually follow suit. The federal government of Nigeria under President Buhari have declared Amotekun illegal.
The truth of the matter is that a lot of states in each political zone have established some sort of paramilitary organization or vigilante group. Kano State government established Hisbah years ago. Couple of Northeastern states established civilian Joint Task Force years ago. Enugu State established security organization called Forest Guard. Other states have Vigilante groups. None of the group was inaugurated in a splash manner as Amotekun. Also, none has been established across a geo-political zone backed by the state government of the entire zone.
The concept of establishing security outfit to protect life and property of the residents of various state is a good idea but it must be established in an orderly manner and within the law. Various States who desires to have security outfit should first push for amendment of the constitution to give states the right to establish state, local government and community police. The constitutional amendment is likely to garner the 2/3 majority required in the National Assembly and State Assemblies. Nigerians from the entire Southern states and perhaps North Central states desires to have the choice of establishing state police to safeguard life and property of their residence since centralized Nigerian Police structure have not succeeded and will never succeed in safe-guarding life and properties of Nigerians.
Current half-hazard system of establishing security outfit is dangerous and may lead to serious instability in the future. It may end up achieving the opposite of what it was created to achieve. Populating Amotekun with members of Odua People’s Congress is a very bad idea. Police or security outfit members must be neutral. Incorporating Odua People’s congress into Amotekun has given the new organization an ethnic coloration. Law enforcement organization in any part of the country must be neutral and fair to all Nigerians that passes through their domain. I am from the Southeastern part of Nigeria, but I do not want to see members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSSAB) as member of any security organization in any Southeastern states. Regional police force is a top down police structure similar to the current centralized federal police force. Nigeria need bottom up police structure which should start with community policing that will be expanded to Local government police and state police in the future. Federal government’s proposed Community Policing is a good start provided it will eventually lead to Local Govt. Area and State police force.
Regionalism is the primary reason why Nigeria is country and not a nation. Regional government established after independence is the primary reason why Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Igbos and other minorities ethnic groups do not see themselves as one people. Nigeria must never go back to regionalism or establish any organization such as Amotekun, or any administrative structure on a regional level. Existing 36 states must be the premier governing structure in Nigeria. States must be empowered with additional resources because government that is closer to people is usually the government that is more likely to identify, cater for their needs and protect the residents in the long run.
The federal government should move away from centralized police structure. The federal government need to move in-front of this unstoppable movement by the states. They need to seize the initiative and and pass law on the modalities for decentralized police which all states must abide by. The paramilitary organizations and vigilante groups he state governments are establishing will eventually get out of control and turn against the people they are supposed to protect.