Ondo governor Rotimi Akeredolu says he would not be dissuaded by criticisms on his plans to acquire sophisticated weapons for the Amotekun Corps to defend his domain against marauders.

Mr Akeredolu, who stated this on Wednesday, was responding to a statement credited to the spokesperson for the presidency, Garba Shehu, over the alleged use of assorted weapons by the local security outfit in Katsina.

“The report by the TVC News that went viral showed the Katsina State Vigilante training with AK47. This is the same weapon which approval has vehemently been refused  for the use of Amotekun Corps and other State Security Outfits. 

“Where did the guns come from; who approved their use, were the guns returned to the armoury after use, the AK47, as seen from the TVC news report, was about usage. If not, what purpose does training with the guns serve?” The governor queried in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Akintunde. 

He added that, “It is rather suspicious that Garba Shehu elected himself as the spokesperson for the Katsina State government. Whereas, the Katsina State has not come out openly to deny the statement of Governor Akeredolu on the use of AK47 by Vigilantes of Katsina State during training.”

Mr Shehu, on Tuesday, said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has not licensed any state of the federation to procure automatic rifles such as AK47 for any local security outfit to defend the people. 

He explained that only the Office of the National Security Adviser can issue such authorisation, upon proper clearance by president Buhari, stressing that the issue of security should not be politicised.  

“In the specific Katsina often cited, the governor, Aminu Bello Masari, wrote to explain that the administration invited the Provost of the Civil Defence Training College in Katsina to train their Vigilantes for a five-day period in the handling and operations of Pump Action Rifles, emphasizing that the Vigilantes were not trained to take over the responsibilities of the security agencies of the Federal Government but to assist them,” Mr Shehu said in an earlier response to the governor. 

But Akeredolu noted that Mr Shehu’s assertion on the use of automatic weapons by state security outfits betrayed the current realities across the country. 

He added that the attempt to justify the use of AK47 by the Vigilantes of Katsina State for training “stands logic on its head”. 

“It is illogical to continue to fight hardened marauders who bear sophisticated weaponry to kidnap and maim our people with bare hands. We cannot fight armed enemies of the people with our bare hands,” Mr Akeredolu said. 

“It is our firm belief that the government has a fundamental duty to protect the people. It is a task that must be accomplished without excuse.”

MrAkeredolu, however, vowed to continue speaking up in defence of the people, stressing that he was more committed to the realisation of a constitutional amendment to reflect the current realities.

“Every Governor was sworn to an oath to protect the state and the people. The sub-national must be allowed to put in place security forces as a counter-balancing force to face these marauders who have unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. 

“It is high time we tackled these conflict entrepreneurs and restore the confidence of the people. We can not do the same thing time and again and expect a different result,” the Ondo governor added.