Speakers of Houses of Assembly in the six South West states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo have pledged to provide the necessary legislative backing for the South West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, an initiative of the South West governors.
The pledge was contained in a communique issued on Friday, January 24, at the end if the meeting of the Speakers.
The communique, signed by the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of South West States Legislature, Bamidele Oleyelogun, was issued at the end of a one-day security summit of the speakers.
The parley, with the theme: “The imperative of Western Nigerian Security Network (Operation Amotekun): Legislative Support for the Initiative,” was explore ways of legalising the initiative.
According to the communique, the speakers expressed total support for Amotekun, contending that it would go a long way in curbing the worrisome security problems facing the region.
It said, “The establishment of the security outfit in the South West is in tandem with the constitution, which makes the protection of lives and properties a matter of priority for any responsible government.
“Operation Amotekun is a welcome development, especially in the spirit of existing community policing laws in the South West states.
“We have collectively resolved that the issue of security as it is in the region especially, and the country as a whole, can no longer continue to be handled with kid’s gloves.
“As legislators, we must do our bit to complement the efforts of our governors through legislations that will give legal strength to the security force.”
Participants at the speaker’s conference include: Adebo Ogundoyin, Oyo State; Funminiyi Afuye, Ekiti; Bamidele Oleyelogun, Ondo; Taiwo Oluomo, Ogun; Timothy Owoeye, Osun and Mudashiru Obasa, Lagos.
