Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, has stated that nothing in the Nigerian Constitution prohibits the state government from establishing a regional security outfit.
He disclosed this in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday after the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, declared Amotekun illegal.
According to the AGF, establishing security is exclusively reserved for the federal government.
However, Akeredolu said it is within the jurisdiction of state governors to protect the people of their state, and that the AGF should head to Court for the interpretation of the constitution regarding Amotekun, as he is wrong for assuming laws out of the constitution.
He said:
“The Constitution does not prohibit us from doing what we are doing,” he said.
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“If the Attorney General made a statement, we will not go and say we want to be confrontational but after our meeting, we will take decisions as to what we will do. We don’t want any confrontation as such but we know that it is not in the place of the AGF to interpret laws. It is for the court,” he said.
“We are elected as governors to protect our people and that’s why we are the chief security officers in the state. So, it is for us to determine what we want to do for our people and we have taken that decision. Amotekun is going to go ahead, but like I said, we will meet and get back to you.”