Lagos opted out of Amotekun because Tinubu didn’t approve, says Makinde
Lagos opted out of Amotekun because Tinubu didn’t approve, says Makinde
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says the federal government should “stop deceiving Nigerians” on the establishment of state police.
He described the wait for the creation of a decentralised police force as a waste of everyone’s time.
Speaking at the joint mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APM in Ibadan, Makinde recalled how south-west governors initially pushed for state police but settled for the regional security network code-named Amotekun in 2020.
“We wanted state police. It was because we couldn’t get the state police that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” he said.
“They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time.”
Focusing on the creation process, Makinde argued that states do not need to wait for the inspector-general of police or federal bureaucracy.
He pointed to how the south-west states coordinated through their houses of assembly to legalise Amotekun.
Makinde said Lagos was the only south-west state that refused to establish Amotekun, adding that the decision stemmed from President Bola Tinubu’s objection.
Tinubu governed Lagos from 1999 to 2007 and has remained godfather in the politics of the city in the years that have followed.
“The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos state, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun,” Makinde said.
He urged the federal government to grant state assemblies the necessary authority, saying state police could be operational “within the shortest possible time” if the political will exists at the subnational level.
Makinde described insecurity as a major pillar of his administration, noting that Amotekun was established early in his tenure after realising full state police powers were not forthcoming.
His statement comes amid heightened insecurity in Oyo state, following the mass abduction of pupils, students, and teachers in Oriire LGA.
On May 15, armed gunmen attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esin-Ele/Yawota axis, abducting approximately 32 people — including 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary students, and seven teachers.
One of the abducted teachers was later killed by the kidnappers.
