The primary function of security agencies is to secure lives and properties. Their constitutional duties also extends to safeguarding peace and maintaining order at all times.
The Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed “Amotekun” like many other security outfit is compelled by law to adhere to these constitutional duties and responsibilities.
The challenges of insecurity in Nigeria particularly in the Southwestern States was what brainchild the emergence of Amotekun in the Southwestern States viz- Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States. This was after the extensive deliberation and consultations of the various Governors in 2020, and the eventual passage into law by their respective State Houses of Assembly.
Though faced with several criticism during its establishment, the security outfit later see the light of the day. The criticism ranges from the debate of its constitutionality and legality, to the possibility of being underfunded, and also the prospect of being misused by the government, particularly the State Governments and political actors in government. These negative presumptions, if not true in its entirety, some are already coming to fruition.
These fears and negative presumptions were also discovered during the course of my Masters Degree Research Thesis, titled “Regional Policing in Nigeria and the Challenge of Sustainable Peace and Security: A Case Study of Amotekun”. It was discovered that the danger of Amotekun being misused by the government particularly in the state, will be more catastrophic than the visible insecurity in the Southwest States that it was birthed to address.
It was also discovered that, political actors who are in government may continue to use Amotekun for their selfish gains, to witch-hunt themselves and score cheap political points, being the only easily accessible security outfit in the local areas.
The research seems to have been vindicated by the recent turn of events in which the Amotekun has left its primary duties of maintaining peace and ensuring security in local communities, to assuming the function of a political party electoral committee by declaring the results of primary elections of a certain political party.
This is evident in a poorly-written, undated, and unsigned publication that surfaced online on Tuesday, 31st May, 2022 purportedly written by the Western Nigeria Security Network Agency (Amotekun), Osun State Command, Irewole Local Government” which has the name of its Commandants beneath it, and titled “Security Report on APC House of Assembly Irewole/Isokan State Constituency Primary Election”.
The purported “security report” was read to be anointing the emergence of a candidate in a House of Assembly Election in Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in Osun State.
On a critical look, one will begin to question if a “security report” is to contain the security analysis and threat to peace of a particular situation, or to declare the outcome of an election and seen visibly to be supporting the emergence of a candidate in an election.
Another question begging for answer is to enquire the possibility of Amotekun writing same “security report” for all the primary elections held by all political parties in the Southwest where Amotekun exist.
The final question is, if Amotekun is currently being misused at the Local Government level, will it not be a question of time before it’s being used by the State Governments against one another, that may even snowball to it’s eventual usage as a secessionist group in the Southwest against other regions of the country?
Amotekun has most times been commended for various successes recorded within the very short time of its establishment in maintaining peace and order in the Southwest. Before now, several encomiums has continued to pour on Amotekun for their indefatigability in maintaining law and order, particularly in rural communities.
The said politically-inclined publication is capable of maligning the interest of the outfit and in fact can make the outfit loose the public trust they’ve garnered so far. This conduct if not checked, is capable of damaging their good reputation, not only in Osun State, but in the entire southwest.
A partial, biased and politically-influenced security agency is not only a threat to democracy and good governance, but also to the continued existence of the people.
Should Amotekun continue to thread on this path of misadventures, it will only be a matter of time before its internal crack will surface and explode.
Recommendation:
It is my recommendation that, firstly, the creator of the poor written “security report”, be reprimanded and trained in the best way a security official should comport themselves.
Secondly, that as a matter of urgency, the commanders of the Amotekun in various local Governments in the Southwest be re-trained on the danger of politicising the outfit, in the interest of the people.
Thirdly, that political actors should desist from engineering political and social violence using this commendable security outfit for their personal interest, as the devil they are creating now, may later hunt and hurt them tomorrow.
Fourthly, the government should implement policies towards making Amotekun an independent outfit free from political influence, and the antics of politicians.
In conclusion, Plato in his book, The Republic, asserted that, “every thing will be produced in superior quality and quantity, when individuals are put in the occupation that agrees with their natural gift”. To this end, the entire security outfit must be allowed to perform their constitutional duties, while politicians and political actors continue with their politicking, without the interference in each other’s business.
Opeyemi Oladimeji LL.B, MSc, is a Doctoral Student of the Global Affairs and Sustainable Development Institute (GASDI) of the Osun State University, Osogbo.
