The Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, has vowed to arm the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), commonly known as Amotekun with AK47 rifles following the approval of the same assault rifle for the Katsina state security unit.
Newsonline reports that Akeredolu said the decision of the Federal government to approve the assault rifle for the Katsina state security unit while denying Amotekun the same opportunity showed double standard.
In a statement on Thursday, the governor while reacting to a video showing the Katsina security outfit obtaining the approval to bear arms, said what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Akeredolu said, “That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing one country, two systems solution to the national question.”
He decried that while all states of the country face the same existential threat from the activities of the bandits, the Federal government is applying a deliberate method of subjugation in approving arms for the Katsina security unit while denying that for Amotekun which is a South-West security unit.
The Ondo state governor vowed that the subjugation method applied by the Federal government must not be allowed to go through, stating that it must be challenged.
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“If the Katsina situation conferring advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged,” he added.
Akeredolu added, “It is also a deliberate destruction of our agricultural sector. It is an existential threat. We want to reiterate, that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander.”
The statement further added that the Ondo government, under the doctrine of necessity, “have decided to fulfill its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them.
“This is more so, given that the bandits have an unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. The State government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people.”
