Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has dismissed fears in some quarters that the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun was initiated to kickstart the cessation of the South-West geopolitical zone from Nigeria.
He said the purveyors of such rumours were enemies of Nigeria who would soon be put to shame.
Recall that the South-West governors and other prominent Yoruba leaders launched Amotekun in Ibadan, Oyo State on January 9.
Since the launch, each state in the zone has commenced moves to legalise the creation of the Amotekun Corps.
Akeredolu, who hosted some editors in the Government House in Akure as part of activities marking his third year in office, explained that the governors conceived the idea to address growing insecurity in the zone.
He reiterated that the South-West had no plans to secede from Nigeria.
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“This country will remain one. The South West will not secede from Nigeria. We will continue to live together regardless of our diversities.
“I Rotimi Akeredolu can never be a party to any arrangement that will lead to dividing this country.
“I am a Yoruba man and I married from the East. I am a detribalised Nigerian. My wife is am Igbo and I have benefitted from both Igbo and Hausa people. So, I am after the unity of Nigeria,” the governor stated.
He berated the police authorities for the role it played in the outfit’s formation, noting that the Federal Government was adequately briefed before Amotekun’s launch.
“When we heard that the Federal Government declared Operation Amotekun illegal, I was shocked because we perfected all necessary arrangements before it was launched and the police were carried along,” he noted.
The Ondo governor maintained that Amotekun has come to stay, thanking leaders across the country who expressed support for its establishment.