…..To support Amotekun in their domains
Traditional rulers in Ekiti state have expressed support for the Governor Kayode Fayemi- led administration’s security policy aimed at ridding the state of crime.
The monarchs, who spoke variously on Wednesday during sensitization meetings by the governing board of Amotekun to the South Senatorial zone comprising of Emure, Ise-Orun and Ikere local government areas assured government of their unalloyed support for the outfit in their domains.
The Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Oba Adetunji Ajayi and the Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo who spoke differently commended governor Fayemi for making the traditional council an important factor in achieving effective security system in the state adding that they are closer to the people and understand the terrain in their respective communities better than any outsider.
The monarchs commended government for strengthening the state’s traditional councils in achieving security in the state, adding that they will go all out to ensure its success.
The traditional rulers, who were excited at the mode of employing staff of Amotekun promised to ensure that only the best were recommended for the job.
According to Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, “We understand fully all you have highlighted, we have already started our own home grown security since the last 15 years that is related to all we are saying. The local government chairmen have always being of assistance to us by giving stipends to our security outfits.
“Several times, we go on vigilante with Orun Ekiti, sometimes I go with them because by the time I was installed as king, the hoodlums have already taken over the area but thank God the Commissioner of police and the DPO’s posted to the area cooperated with us. With this cooperation, we were able to apprehend quite a number of them.
“it is a very good initiative, because issue of security concern all of us, they want to round us up, they are located in all our bushes between Ise, Ijan and Ado, they are there in Iso in Ondo state, they are everywhere. Even Ikere, that is why when they kidnap somebody around the hills, they found themselves in Ondo state through Iju.
“We know the present step that government is taking will see the light of the day, thank God that the way you are going about it, you will give us opportunity to have input because we are the ones who know who can do the work because many people who were collecting the forms do not understand the implication and the challenges of the job.
“In fairness, the Ise/Orun vigilante is trying in their bid at combating crime in the area because they are being well coordinated and we ensure they get the necessary tools to work with.
“We would try to call meetings of traditional council to give effect to what we have said. So, on behalf of Ise/Orun traditional council, we appreciate you a lot and I want to use this opportunity to tell you that we would support you and help us to extent our greeting to the governor who deemed fit to ensure the safety of his people. It is a very difficult mission but you will succeed.”
The Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo also said, “I want to congratulate members of the board, it is a call to service and it’s a challenge to start this type of operation, one of the things I have been thinking of is the execution and the modality for ensuring that it does not fail. It lies on government generally in the southwest as well as our people. So, its collaboration, when we look at the deficiencies and reasons for failure of our security agencies, you know one of the major reasons is the issue of logistics. You have a herculean task before you but God will help you.
“Let me also say for our community here, before some of these arrangements we have been having, we have the security committee of the local government and security committee of the traditional council as well as the security committee of the government agents where we regularly meet, this point to the fact that we have gone faster than the governments and the police in starting Amotekun.
“The community policing has always being there, it is the implementation to ensure that this thing works, we have the vigilante in place to ensure the security of our environment.”
The Board chairman, Mr Akin Aregbesola had observed that Emure, Ise and Ikere are exit towns to Ondo state which made them prone to danger of criminals seeking safe exit to other state.
While explaining the roles expected from the indigenes, Aregbesola advised parents to warn their children and wards to desist from having any form of relationship with criminals but to cooperate with Amotekun to achieve success in its drive to combat crime in the state.
He added that the traditional rulers should help in the gathering of information that would help the corps hoping they will not try to shield criminals for one reason or the other as we as ensuring that they put a stop at incursion of strangers to their communities.
The Chairmen of all the local government areas visited promised to support the Amotekun with necessary logistics including provision of office accommodation.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Chief Akinola Aremo and Chief Faleyimu Owajoba commended governor Fayemi for the initiative and promised their support for the Amotekun corps.