- Amotekun was introduced as a temporary alternative to address rising security challenges within the region
- He warned that insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country
- The governor added that further delays in addressing the issue would amount to unnecessary political distractions
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticised the Federal Government over the prolonged discussions surrounding the creation of state police, saying the issue should have moved beyond debates to implementation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Makinde spoke on Friday during a joint political rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party and the APM in Ibadan, where he argued that insecurity across the country requires a decentralised policing structure.
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The governor said South-West governors had earlier pushed for state police but were forced to create the regional security outfit, Amotekun, after the proposal failed to gain federal approval.
According to him, Amotekun was introduced as a temporary alternative to address rising security challenges within the region.
Makinde maintained that state governments have the capacity to establish local security structures without waiting endlessly for directives from the centre.
He explained that governors in the South-West successfully worked with their respective state assemblies to legalise Amotekun operations across participating states.
The governor, however, pointed out that Lagos State did not join the regional initiative at the time, alleging that political considerations influenced the decision.
Makinde insisted that if there was genuine commitment from the authorities, state policing could become operational within a short period.
He warned that insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country, stressing that localised policing remains one of the practical solutions needed to improve security.
The governor added that further delays in addressing the issue would amount to unnecessary political distractions while communities continue to battle criminal activities.
