Petition to Oyo State Government -By Segun Adebowale

REF: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN OYO STATE AMOTEKUN CORPS. 14/03/2022

The recent post I read about Oyo State Security Network Amotekun corps titled contemporary issues in Oyo State Amotekun corps at www.opinionnigeria.com/contemporary-issue-in-oyo-state-amotekun-corps-eyes-above/ reminds me of one Biblical story of Israelites in I Samuel chapter 8, when the people of Israel were tired of being governed by Samuel’s sons as judges for the people of Israel. Despite the attribute of coming king revealed by God through Prophet Samuel, the Israelites still maintained their stand to Samuel that ‘we want a king over us. Then we will be like all other nations…” The write up read on the internet simply relates to the Biblical story above that the Elites among Oyo State Amotekun Corps have been tired of being ruled by certain set of people whose leadership attainment did not follow any specify standard inform of religion, age, certificate, experience, politics or any other criteria of leadership selection in this enlighten age of reasoning and computer age. Therefore, the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) should be given opportunity of being like other Western Nigeria States where Amotekun corps is structurally operating.

In the first place, can the people at helms of affairs of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) reply to the internet article published by stating the criteria used in selection and appointment of who to lead in Oyo State Security Network (Amotekun). A rejoinder should be written stating what qualifies the Local Governments coordinators, the LG 2ic, the admin officers, operation officers (all at Local Government and at the Command headquarters) to merit the post holding, since all Amotekun has equal opportunities. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. What did those Amotekun Corps holding post in Oyo State Amotekun office possess that other officers did not possess? Hope this system of selecting who to lead is not gender bias, religious bias, experience bias. Does the selection at the State headquarters follows Local Governments quota system or other Local Government is not qualified to work at the State headquarters? With my findings, l gathered that few people with formal education certificate are being headed by people who can neither read nor write. Should this system of backwardness be encouraged in a State where Government is doing its best to let younger one get best of education? Would this system in Oyo State Amotekun not be a good reference point for younger ones not to get adequate education?

Secondly, why at this century, the ranks/grades system which is not use in Oyo State Security Network Agency as it been used in other Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) States like Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and probably Osun State. Rank is not only used to designate leadership, but to establish pay-grade as well. As rank increases, pay-grade follows, but so does the amount of responsibility. Within modern armed forces, the use of ranks is almost universal. Communist states have sometimes abolished ranks (e.g., the Soviet Red Army 1918–1935, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army 1965–1988, and the Albanian People’s Army 1966–1991), but they had to re-establish them (ranks) after encountering operational difficulties of command and control. Should Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) wait for a time like this? While it other co-states have acted proactively on the ranks.

The Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is also in best position to provide answers to issue of extortion and high bail paid at various Amotekun’s office after attending to civil and criminal cases. Is the public extortion part of the mandate given to Amotekun corps? Should the bailing system that is even theoretically made free at the Nigerian Police Stations be legally upholds and practice by our very own people who are now clothed in Oyo State Amotekun’s uniform? Gone are the days when some of my friends and neighbors who are now in Oyo State Amotekun corps usually run off helter-skelter simply because police bail and extortion on them for most of them (Amotekun corps) are perpetual law breakers. The bailing system which we do consider as corruption and cheating in Police station is now legal practice in Oyo State Amotekun Corps. I was fortunate to stumble on where Amotekun corps at Local Governments was comparing the state of the money generated through bail and other illegal means with some other Local Governments who are less fortunate. These Amotekun corps was comparing money generated from bail and other means to the tune of 10 million naira per-annum, which they eventually shared among themselves on Monthly basis along with huge salary paid to each corps by the Oyo State Government. I then wonder why the State Government and the Oyo State Security Network Agency failed to put appropriate measure in place to checkmate and convert this into a more useful channel, but total eradication is the best measure, so that corrupt Amotekun corps members can be fished out and checked.

And is it true that all Oyo State Amotekun corps is on the same salary scheme? If so, something definite is wrong with the Agency because part of what can make coordinator more dignifies and respected among other Amotekun corps is difference in Salary. If those selected as bosses at Oyo State Security Network Agency at Local Government and State headhunters are taken the same salary with other corp, please adjust the scheme, so as not to let the bosses get corrupted because they work more than other Amotekun corps working under them.

Likewise the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) should let know if the Ogun shrine erected at various Amotekun’s Local Government offices is part of staff of office. Since traditional oath was taken by each corps members before being given uniform in November 2020, which I see nothing wrong with, because may the Oyo State Security Network Agency was insinuating that some selected for the security task may turns otherwise, which those selected Amotekun corps attest to the insinuation and the saying that the leopard does not change his spots. Are these entire Shrines in Government established offices helps in crimes detection? Are the shrines reliable in fact findings? Is the result genuine and consistent? Would the validity not be questioned? How presentable and prosecutable facts and crimes detected through this system be acceptable and use in court of law especially in Africa?

More so, is Oyo State Network Agency (Amotekun) really operating without Operational Manual and Code of conduct at each Local Government offices, even at the State headquarters? If true, it is wrong for a government established offices, a security outfit for that matter. Even the Voluntary Organizations like Man ‘o’ war (which His Excellency Gov. Seyi Makinde is a high ranking Officer and others can testify to) Boys Scout, VGN, OPC, Boys Brigade, etc are all operating successfully with Manual and Code of Conduct. How then do the Oyo State Network Agency (Amotekun) balancing the punishment and sanction given out to respective Amotekun corps who has committed one or more offence. Hope there has not been partiality in punishment or sanctions given out to the faulty corps members? Beside, may be Oyo State Amotekun Corps is above board in Character that is why Operational manual and code of conduct is of no need in the Agency. Mind you, our elders say ‘a society where there is no law, there is no sin’.

Furthermore and in conclusion the Oyo State House of Assembly and the Executive Governor need to act fast on the section of the Amotekun law referred to on the internet article as far as the powers of Oyo State Amotekun Board is concerned. Because the moment I keenly consumed the internet material written on Oyo State Amotekun corps, I asked myself don’t Oyo House of Assembly has capable members who can make and enforce law? But the answer is a capital “NO”.

In Oyo State House of Assembly where the amiable and honorable members are working as a system to complement the efforts of the speaker house of assembly Hon. Edward Adebo Ogundoyin and the efforts of the energetic and ever dynamic Governor Seyi Makinde Abiodun whose primary task is the creation of a Godly and secured society for good people of the State. And the Amotekun Board Chairman Major General Toogun (Rtd) and Amotekun commandant Col. (Rtd) Olayinka both of reputable character and unbeatable military experience, without missing words, are up to the task.

Likewise, I have a strong trust and belief in the set of elected honorable in Oyo State House of Assembly, the executive Governor Seyi Makinde and the head of Ministry of Justice under which Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is a unit that all points raised above shall be investigated and given proper attention deserved.

Cc: The Office of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Oyo State House of Assembly, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Special Adviser on Security, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Oyo State Ministry of Justice, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Office of Oyo State Head of Service, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Oyo State Judicial Service, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Oyo State Ministry of Establishment and training, State Secretariat Ibadan
The Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sport, State Secretariat, Ibadan.

E.mail segunade 951@gmial.com