Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has commended the United Nations for declarating July 7 of every year as ‘World Amotekun Day’
TheHintsNews reports that Amotekun’s formal recognition by the global body (the UN) was made public last week by the President of the World Peace, Amb. Peer Stafsen while presenting the ‘certificate of affiliation’ to the Commandant of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye (DCC Rtd) in Akure, the state capital.
Checks revealed that Ondo State is significant on the issue of Amotekun as its former Governor, late Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was pivotal in the establishment of the corps.
Akeredolu along with his fellow governors in the Southwest then, were steadfast in ensuring that the security outfit took off and was sustained in spite of the obstacles placed on its ways in various guises.
The Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed ‘Amotekun’ (Yoruba word for ‘Leopard’ or ‘Cheetah’) was launched on January 9, 2020 in Ibadan, Oyo State by the governors of the south west i.e. Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.
The establishment of the security outfit emanated from the regional security summit that took place in Ibadan in June, 2019 under the auspices of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN).
However, the factional national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi in a statement issued Sunday said the recognition of Amotekun by the United Nations was unprecedented in this part of the globe.
He added that Amotekun’s invitation to attend meetings of the body’s affiliates on security and human rights is a big morale booster.
Ajayi noted that it was also a testament that those who brought it about and have been sustaining it were exemplary and as further attested to by some states in Nigeria who have shown interest in replicating the concept in their respective areas.
Afenifere submitted that the formal recognition of Amotekun by the apex world body and its formal invitation to attend annual security meeting “is a clear indication that the establishment of the outfit was a very good step to take.
It added: “Its sustenance over the years in spite of various challenges is a testament to the resilience, vision and determination of all those who came up with the idea and those who have been keeping it alive.”
Ajayi said Afenifere was impressed by the outfit’s significant contributions to reducing crime, supporting farmers, and ensuring highway safety across the Southwest region.
The achievement now places Amotekun in a position to participate in various UN security and human rights meetings globally.
Ajayi recalled that Amotekun, in its early formation, faced a lot of avoidable challenges especially from the federal government then led by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He commended the governors of the South west for not succumbing to intimidation then.
Ajayi noted: “Their not succumbing to intimidation has helped greatly in checking crimes in the region and in reducing the menace of armed bandits including unscrupulous Fulani herders who are making going to farms perilous”.
“We seize this opportunity to also call for an expeditious action on the establishment of state police and the provision of all that is needed to ensure that crime and banditry are reduced to the barest minimum.”