Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has attacked the the federal government for what he described as double standard in administering the counry.
Akeredolu was responding to a video showin how the Katsina security outfit obtained their licence to carry AK-47 in the fight against banditry in the northwestern state.
In a statement on Thursday, the governor the federal government denied the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) licence to carry assault rifles despite terror attacks.
“That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing one country, two systems solution to the national question,’ he said.
“If the Katsina situation conferring advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged.”
According to him, Nigeria’s independence agreement was based on a democratic arrangement to have a federal state and devolved internal security mechanics.
Besides emphasizing that denying Amotekun the right to bear arms exposes the Southwest to life-threatening marauders and organized crime, he went further to accuse the government of sabotaging food production.
“It is an existential threat. We want to reiterate, that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander.”
He then added how the Ondo government, under the doctrine of necessity, “have decided to fulfil its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them”.
“This is more so, given that the bandits have an unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. The State government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people.”