Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has declared his support for the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as ‘Amotekun’.
Professor Soyinka who was the keynote speaker at an event organised by Nzuko Umunna & Ndigbo Lagos in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations, tagged ‘Never Again’, “Nigerian Civil war 50 years After”, aimed at reminiscing on the aftermath of the war and the process of national healing, stated that the institution of Amotekun “has fulfilled the yearnings of the people”.
Professor Soyinka’s remarks is coming four days after the governors of the south-west region met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to launch the Western Nigeria Security Network.
Code named ‘Amotekun’, the unveiling of the outfit was to reinforce the existing security architecture of the region.
However, the unveiling of the security network has sparked a debate in some parts of the country.
Some of the governors present at the event which held on Thursday last week include Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).
They took turns to explain the rationale behind the decision which they said was aimed at ending the spate of banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen invasion, and other threats to the security of lives and properties, as well as the economic advancement of the region.
More than 130 patrol vans and hundreds of motorbikes were commissioned for use to kick start the project.
The launch of ‘Amotekun’ was also attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as well as the leader of the Yoruba World Congress, Professor Banji Akintoye.
