By Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
The Southern and
Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has urged the South West governors to
ignore the directive of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami on Amotekun.
The minister had
declared the South West security outfit as illegal but the group said the
minister lack the power to go against the decision of elected governors.
The leaders in a
statement therefore described the statement of the minister as an abuse of
power.
The statement was
signed by Yinka Odumakin, South West; Gen CRU Iherike,
South East; Senator
Bassey Henshaw
South South and Dr
Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt.
SMBLF leaders
stated: “The attention of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum(SMBLF) has
been drawn to the illegal diktat by the Attorney – General of the
Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami(SAN) declaring Amotekun, the South West security
(not military or Police) outfit illegal.
“We consider his
action as an abuse of office to suppress the rights of federating units to
secure themselves and in furtherance of the widely – held suspicion that
sections of the country are deliberately being rendered vulnerable for
herdsmen and other criminals by the Federal Government.
“We ask the
Governors of the South West to ignore Malamu and allow him to go to court to
challenge their decision as he cannot constitute himself a court over
elected governors.We are not under military rule.
“We insist that what
the Governors have done is what individuals and and neighborhoods can legally
do to secure their lives and property.
“The right to
preserve your life cannot be under any exclusive list other than the list of
those who have no value for human lives.
“The ultra vire
action of the AGF has further exposed Nigeria as a country under command and
control and governed by a conquest mentality.
“We ask Malami to
tell us what makes Amotekun illegal and Hisbah legal.
“He should further
explain to us what makes Civilian JTF legal in the North East where there is
war and in Zamfara and Katina and Kano where there is no war, while
Amotekun is his only illegal take.
“This is a defining
moment to decide if we are under segregation and different laws in the
country.”
Source: The Nation
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