The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has asked South-West governors to ignore the statement by Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami(SAN), declaring Amotekun, the South-West security outfit illegal.
It described the statement as an abuse of office meant to suppress the rights of federating units to secure themselves.
The forum admonished the governors to challenge the AGF’s stance in court, insisting that the right to preserve life cannot be under any exclusive list “other than the list of those who have no value for human lives.”
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its co-spokespersons; Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Gen. Collins Iherike (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South), Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).
The SMBLF comprising various ethnic socio-cultural groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and Pan Niger Delta Forum argued that Malami’s declaration was in furtherance of “the widely – held suspicion that sections of the country are deliberately being rendered vulnerable for herdsmen and other criminals by the Federal Government.”
It stated, “We ask the Governors of the South West to ignore Malami and allow him to go to court to challenge their decision as he cannot constitute himself into a court over elected governors. We are not under military rule.
“We insist that what the governors have done is what individuals and neighbourhoods can legally do to secure their lives and property.
“The ultra vire action of the AGF has further exposed Nigeria as a country under command and control and governed by a conquest mentality.”
The group asked Malami to explain what made Hisbah police in Kano and the Civilian Joint Task Force in the North East legal.
It said, “We ask Malami to tell us what makes Amotekun illegal and Hisbah legal.
“He should further explain to us what makes Civilian JTF legal in the North East where there is war and in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kano where there is no war, while Amotekun is illegal.”
The group noted, “This is a defining moment to decide if we are under segregation and different laws in this country.”
