Amotekun: Ogun Ex-Governor, Gbenga Daniel says the SW initiative is not illegal

Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba (Engr.) Gbenga Daniel has lend his voice to the raging controversy over the establishment of the South West regional security outfit, Amotekun by all the Governors of the Six States of the region, saying they are good initiative meant for the protection of lives and properties of the people and resident of the region.

"There is practically nothing wrong in establishing the regional security outfit and any other similar organisations especially since they are meant to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in the country which in practical terms appear to have been overstretched. The Nigerian Police clearly needs help at this point in time," Daniel said while being asked about his view on the development.

Speaking further on the legal and ethical controversy that habe trailed the initiative, Otunba Gbenga Daniel sai: "I see Amotekun as putting a structure around what has been in existence for several years. In fact, the initiative of the Governors bring informal security outfits under the law, so it cannot be an infraction against the constitution.

"People and communities have engaged private security concerns to protect them over the years. The Governors in their respective states are considered the Chief Executive and Security officers. Except you are now stripping them of the ‘executive’ titles.

"By that right and power which is also derived from the Constitution, they can decide what form of security architecture suitable for their states and can sign cooperative agreements with anyone and any states in pursuit of that.

“States do sign cooperative agreement on joint economic initiatives; Lagos and Kebbi States produced “Lake Rice” in a sort of Cooperative arrangement; there have been cooperation on Border Towns joint development etc, so I see no reasons why States can not cooperate on security which threatens them as a people of common history and heritage.

“No doubt the South West was gradually becoming an endangered region in terms of security of lives and properties