Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Tuesday sought for the cooperation and support of the people of the state in his administration, in a renewed efforts to ensure peace in the state and rid the state of criminal elements.
Akeredolu who said this during the Passing-Out Ceremony of pioneer Amotekun Corps Officers of the State Security Network Agency also stressed the need for all stakeholders and citizens to come together and rededicate themselves towards the security of the state to aid development.
The governor stated that with a workable synergy among the leadership of the security agencies and that of Amotekun, a water-tight strategy capable of arresting crimes even before they occur would be deployed.
According to him, the south-west governors give priority to the security of their people, saying the governors would never play politics with the security of the people.
He recalled that when the Amotekun Corps initiative was launched, “many felt I was people putting my second term ambition on the line. But I told them, time and again, that my ambition is not worth the insecurities that our people are confronted with, where at some point, people were afraid of travelling out of the state.
“It was so horrible that marauders laid siege at the highways as well as in the farmlands waiting to kidnap or devour anyone insight.
With the launch of the Amotekun, we resolved that it shall be no retreat, no surrender. We are not going to be intimidated or blackmailed”
The governor expressed his readiness to champion the course of a better, safer and prosperous society and country, saying he was determined not to pay lip service to the constitutional role of government which is to seek the welfare and protection of the lives and property of the people.
“It is incontrovertible that the existing security framework is being overstretched and we had to devise a means of confronting the challenge of insecurity head-on. That was when the concept of Amotekun came up. As Yorubas, we are not known to surrender to our adversaries and if our forebears did not, we should not.
“On 4th March, this year, just two months after the launch of Amotekun in Ibadan, the Bill setting up the Corps was signed into law, after diligent and thorough work by the State House of Assembly. The import of this is that Amotekun Corps is now a legal entity not just the idea of an individual.
“As noted at the launch, it is not a parallel security structure to any of the security agencies. Rather, it is to complement what is on the ground so that together they can achieve the goal of a safer environment, conducive enough to encourage foreign investors and rid our State of all forms of crime and criminally-minded elements” he said.
The State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Ade Adeleye, reiterated the resolve of the Corp on zero tolerance to crime, which could be achieved through the robust intelligence sharing with other security agencies.
He said “we will do all that possible in line with the objectives of the agency. We will continue to sensitise our people and enlist the cooperation of all stakeholders in this onerous assignment.
“We shall rely on the support of the people of the state as you draw on our skills and capabilities in the pursuit of our set targets”
He commended the state government over its supports and commitment despite the paucity of funds but ensure the take-off of the security outfit.