Governors Are Security Chiefs With No Powers - Akeredolu

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, said that it doesn't make sense that state governors are called security chiefs without any powers.

The governor stated this during the governorship debate - hosted by Channels TV - on Wednesday, October 7.

He said that the limited powers of state governors over security issues in the country led to the creation of the security outfit Amotekun - a south-west regional outfit.

Akeredolu said, “I can assure you that I am not pleased with our security architecture in the country today. I am one of the strong advocates for multi-level policing, and that the country is ripe for it. I believe that to have a single command, for instance, for our police, can now ensure the security we need.

READ ALSO: Ondo Decides 2020: Tinubu Absent As Akeredolu Holds Mega Rally In Akure

“For us as a state, or state governors, to be called the chief security officers without having powers does not make sense. That is one of the reasons that led to a number of us — those of us in the south-west — to create the south-west security network, which we christened Amotekun.

“Amotekun, as you know, is backed by law. Amotekun has come to stay, and we are making a case that ‘look, as chief security officers, those who have been saddled with the responsibility of the security of lives and properties of our states, we have a stake.’

“I believe that the police are saddled with a lot of things. It might be that things are getting out of their hands, and they don’t have the numbers. So, we are prepared as a state to assist, so that we can work together. And that is the essence of Amotekun.”