Ondo State governor and Chairman of Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, has stated that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is only meant to interpret and not to make laws.
Akeredolu said this while reacting to the Federal Government’s declaration that the South West security outfit, Operation Amotekun, is illegal.
Malami had on Tuesday made the government’s position known in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu.
According to him, “The setting up of the paramilitary organisation called Amotekun is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria.”
However, Akeredolu, in a telephone interview with Channels Television, said the South West governors had not met on Malami’s statement.
“We have not met. When we meet, we will react appropriately, but one thing is clear, laws are not made in the office of the AGF. He is only meant to interpret the law,” he said.
But it was gathered that the South West governors would meet in the next few days and might resort to legal action against Malami’s pronouncement.
Newspeakonline had reported last week that interference from the federal government is threatening the launching and operation of the security outfit.
According to the report, some elements within the Presidency and the Police authorities are not favourably disposed to the regional outfit because they consider it as part of the restructuring agenda which the South West had been clamouring for.
