Miyetti Allah has described the South West security network ‘Amotekun’ as a “monster” which should not be allowed as it could lead to “serious disaster” for the country
The National Secretary of the group, Saleh Alhassan, stated this on Tuesday while featuring on Channels Television’s programme Sunrise Daily.
Alhassan likened the initiative to the Oodua Peoples Congress (APC) which he claimed has the history of heinous crimes and killings.
“We are afraid because if they don’t tame this monster at the early stage, it is going to be a serious disaster for the country,” he said.
He also described the initiative as a “threat to democracy”.
Speaking further, he accused those calling for the creation of the security outfit of planning to displace the herdsmen in the Yoruba-speaking states.
“For us, Amotekun, the Yoruba tribal militia is one of the greatest threats to democracy we now have in place. You cannot empower an ethnic militia that has a violent crime.
“Essentially what you have as Amotekun is OPC that have a history of ethnic crimes and killings. And the proponents of Amotekun have not hidden who their targets are. They have consistently said their target is to displace the herders from the Southwest,” Alhassan stated.
When asked if he indeed said that support for Amotekun could cost the South-West the Presidency in 2023, Saleh admitted saying so but said it was not blackmail.
He said, “It is not blackmail. Unfortunately, with very strong apology to my South-West friends, despite the education of the Yoruba people, they still remain the most primitive in terms of politics. They are not tolerant to opposition and if you allow them to have an ethnic army, definitely there will be fear from Nigerians.”
Saleh recalled that in Lagos during the 2019 governorship elections, many persons in Igbo dominated areas were not allowed to vote because of the level of intolerance.
He said if Amotekun is allowed to see the light of day, worse may happen.
“We know what happened in Lagos during the last elections. The Igbo were denied voting and the oba even threatened to throw them into the lagoon. So, if you now have a Yoruba ethnic militia, what do you think will happen?” he asked.
The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore secretary was, however, cautioned by the Channels anchor, Chamberlain Usoh, who asked him to be civil in his speech.
Saleh, who adamantly insisted that Amotekun was an ethnic militia, wondered if persons of other tribes would be recruited into Amotekun.
Recall that the Federal Government had earlier tagged Amotekun as illegal and unconstitutional.
According to the government, no other authority at the state level, whether the executive or legislature has the legal authority over defence.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Airforce, including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria,” a statement by the Special Assistant, Media and Public Relations (Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice), Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said.
