Open letter to Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State -By Segun Adebowale

Your Excellency,

VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY COLONEL(RTED) OLAYINKA OLAYAJU

I am writing this letter in respect of ongoing forceful traditional Oaths taken administered on the Oyo State Amotekun operatives by the Amotekun State commandant: colonel Olayinka Olayaju, so as to let you know the actual reasons behind it and its possible, workable and lasting solution. And plead for your executive power to put a stop to it as chief security of Oyo State.

I have to state clearly that I cast my vote for you during the 2020 general election not because I am a politician but because I so much believe in your youthful age and that your administration may bring better hope to the Oyo State citizens and youths in particular. As a person who want a change in Oyo State, I also encouraged and convinced people to vote for you, which we all eventually rejoiced in your election victory.

May I let you know that the problems facing or battling with the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is more of manmade than natural, is more of the Amotekun State commandant; Olayinka Olayaju’s self inflicted than the operatives’ self inflicted. The administrators’ or commandant’s failure to make operational manual and code of conduct available to the Oyo State Amotekun operatives is the operatives faults to perform effectively as expected.

The Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is seriously bewitching with OPC caucus interest manifesting and prevailing in the decisions making of Colonel (rted) Olayinka Olayaju and his 2ic Mr Akinro. I can bet it with anyone that most atrocities that necessitate for this forceful traditional Oath are being perpetrated by the OPC boys which Colonel Olayinka and Akinro know the evil perpetrators among the OPCs. But the traditional Oaths taken at the OPC meeting cannot allow Colonel Olayinka Olayaju and Akinro to take any discipline actions on the affected OPC members.

Instead of the Oyo State Amotekun commandant to strive in making sure that the Amotekun operatives can legally hold sophisticated gun to eliminate bandits and their criminal activities in the state, the colonel embarked on mission of violating the fundamental human rights of the Oyo State Amotekun operatives by forcing them to swear traditionally, without knowing purpose of the swearing. Who dare ask the commandant?

The Oyo State Amotekun commandant is not ingnorant of the fact that his operatives are extorting the public and getting money from those caught committed one crime or the others and set the culprit free, with the Commandant share getting to him whether in cash or in kind. All these atrocities of colonel Olayinka Olayaju and his 2ic Akinro are part of what he want to concealed to the Amotekun’s operatives that may want to raise any alarm. Colonel Olayinka Olayaju’s intention on this traditional Oath taken is to commits Oyo State Amotekun operatives never to expose him and his criminal activities in the affairs of Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun)

Can this traditional Oath taken train and retrain the Oyo State Amotekun operatives how to handle sophisticated weapon at this perilous time of banditry and terrorism? This is part of your being expediency. You what next to do in the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun). I believed that some well meaning Oyo State citizens have contacted and met with you but you are too rigid to accept their possible and workable solution.

Political reason is also attached to this forceful traditional Oaths taken that you want to administer on Oyo State Amotekun operatives. Some public members contacted, are of the opinions that the intent behind this has connection with coming general election, especially the Governorship election. There is every indication that you will later commit the Amotekun’s operatives to play active and vibrant roles in rigging the 2023 Oyo State Governorship election and based on the traditional Oaths taken, the operatives dare not divulge information on this plan nor try to refute the order.

You are only doing eyes service to please the executive governor Seyi Makinde by carrying out what he did not send you to do.

The bandits and terrorists are day in day out training and retraining their operatives to effectively carry out their operations without being caught. But the Oyo State Amotekun commandant administered and busy re-administering traditional Oaths taken to replace traning and retraining exercise that security job demanded for.

You never asked the Traditinalist to work and invent traditional security equipment that can reveal the plan of terrorists and bandits on what their plan is to disptrupt security status of Oyo State? When are the terrorists and bandits planning to invade Oyo State? Which side do they want to get in? What are the possible solutions or traditional rites to do to avert this in Oyo State and Southwest in general? If this can be carried out perfectly by Traditionalist, there should not be any delay in legalizing and make it work in the State, if judiciary would accept the criminal detective instrument at law court.

In actual sense, every right thinking person know that sanity and good behavior should be a prerequisite for any security operatives, but to instill the quality, it does not require administration of traditional Oaths which could rendered impotent later. Instead each Oyo State Amotekun operatives should be asked to duly sign a CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Agreement form (politicians and other public office holders included) for breaking any outstanding operational manual provided.
In addition, would this step of traditional Oath taken allow professionalism in the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) that could lead to prosecution of any crime apprehended by the Oyo State Amotekun operatives?

The root of problems working against the development of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) should better dig to administrative rather than associating the problem to mere operatives who are subjected to unprofessional orders from Colonel Olayinka.

The major and principal brain behind the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) problems is the Colonel (rted) Olayinka, whose tenure can be terminate on the following grounds as stipulated in the Amotekun Law 2020 section 15, which he has long ago, without doubt attained
(a) abuse of office or willful violation of the fundamental human right of any person as contained in chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic 1999 (as amended)
(b) misconduct or misbehavior that he has conducted himself in a
manner which brings or is likely to bring the Amotekun Corps into hatred, ridicule, contempt, disrepute or that he has dishonestly done any act or omission which is prejudicial or inimical to the security of the State; or
(c) physical or mental incapacity.

Sir, bear it in mind that it is constitutional duty of the Oyo State Security Network Agency to protect and safe guide the fundamental human right of the Oyo State citizens, which the Oyo State Amotekun operatives should also enjoy. Please, save them from this forceful traditional Oath taken this is a step toward violation of the Amotekun operative’s fundamental right of religion.

“The Agency shall in the course of carrying out its duties safeguard the human rights of every person as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other relevant human rights instruments.” Oyo State Amotekun’s Law 2020 section 6 (2)
I beseech the Oyo State Government and the Oyo State Amotekun Board of Governance to look seriously into this matter, so as to let the innocent Amotekun operatives get proper Justice.

Your Excellency Engineer Seyi Makinde and the Oyo State Amotekun Board of Governance, Chairman by Gen. Kunle Togun, I challenge your administration to demonstrate that Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is not organized for OPC caucus, therefore, there should be professionalism in the Agency. Structuring, grading and protection of fundamental human rights of Oyo State citizens and Oyo State Amotekun operatives and other programs that can lead to the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amoteku) personnel development as contained in the Amotekun Law 2020.

Your excellecy sir, I will be expecting your open reply to my letter.

Yours in nation building
Segun Adebowale