AMOTEKUN: FG arbitrary declaration is a joke taken too far— BB Lawal
The Baamofin of Kisi land and ADC former senatorial candidate in Oyo state, Barrister Bayo Lawal has reacted to the statement of Attorney general on Amotekun.
The Chief Justice recently described the launch Amotekun as illegal.
BB Lawal wrote: “The office of Attorney General is a creation of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Section 150(1&2), provides for the establishment of the office and the required educational qualification and experience for the holder of the office. In short, the holder must be a legal Practitioner enrolled with the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Solicitor and Barrister with at least 10years post call experience.
“In other words, it is the only office among ministerial offices with constitutional prescribed qualification and experience. This is so, because the Attorney General is the chief Law Officer and Advicerto the FGN. His office is clothed with enormous powers, including sometimes power of life and death. That is the reason the holder is supposed to be mature, bold,master of laws and equity.
He is expected to provide sound advice to government even if such is not palatable. On the 9th of January, six South West Governors,at Ibadan launched Operation Amotekun, with the sole purpose of improving on the security arrangements for the zone.The launching was well attended not only by royal father’s but also fine legal minds, who saw through as legal and Constitutional.
However, today 14 Jan, by a press release, the Federal AG.declared Amotekun as illegal.This, to say the least is records, and a joke taken too far.If the AG is not happy with the establishment of Amotekun, the only course opened to him in law is to approach the Supreme Court for pronouncement on the constitutionality of the action of the 6 govs.Even under Martial law, such a statement would not issue. Which now brings us all to stark reality of pretence to Nigeria being a Federation.
The FGN, ought to approach the Court in the first instance. But now our governors must courageously confront the challenge of Federal government’s arbitrary declaration.
Good enough these govs are known to be fighters and defenders of rights of their citizens.Gov Seyi Makinde, this is your Cross along with all well meaning Nigerians. God be with you.