The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has called on the Federal government to allow South-West Security Network, Amotekun to bear sophisticated weapons just like the security unit under Government Tompolo which was awarded pipelines surveillance contract.
Newsonline reports that Governor Akeredolu said he was not concerned with the contract given to private citizens, but if they must be allowed to carry sophisticated weapons to secure pipelines then Amotekun that secures human lives must be allowed to also carry sophisticated weapons.
Akeredolu who stated this during the inauguration of the newly built office complex at the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of the State, said the Federal government cannot give non-state actors in Oil pipeline surveillance the license to carry assault weapons and deny Amotekun the same license.
Akeredolu lamented the precarious security situation in the country and vowed to keep going head-on to defend residents of the State.
The Ondo State governor said he was not interested in the contract given to Government Tompolo as it was the Federal government’s money but maintained that the same recognition should be given Amotekun.
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He said, “Most of the people and even some of my colleagues didn’t really understand my position on the oil pipeline surveillance contract.
“I have no issue with the Federal Government awarding surveillance contracts to anybody. It is the Federal Government’s money. They can use it anyhow they want.
“Here, we are spending our money on Amotekun. And what I said in my statement titled ‘Who Actually Needs Weapons’ was that the Federal Government should allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons like those whom they awarded pipeline surveillance contracts.”
At the inauguration, the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC, led by Chairman Sam Erejuwa gave the chairmen of Ilaje and Ese-Odo two patrol cars and three motorbikes to help in the improvement of security in the local government.
