The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at last broke his silence on the controversy surrounding the security network formed by governors of the South-West of Nigeria, Amotekun.
The formation of Amotekun has been greeted with controversy, particularly following the declaration by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, that the outfit is illegal.
In his reaction, Tinubu, while describing Amotekun as a commendable initiative to ensure security of lives and property, however said there were still some areas that needed to be fine-tuned.
He also spoke about his decision to remain quiet over the issue for some time, despite the call by many for him to bare his mind.
According to him, as a political leader, it would be improper for him to express his views without being circumspect, particularly in view of those who could take undue advantage of it.
His words: “Until now, I have deliberately maintained a studied silence regarding Amotekun. Many have tried to goad my swift public reaction. Those who have taken this road did so not because they care about Amotekun or even the people it intends to help protect. They did so knowing this had become a delicate and emotional issue for many. These cynics did so with the adversarial hope that, in haste, I might misspeak or misstep in a manner they could twist to their political advantage.
“Such people are possessed of a mercenary aspect that permits them to sacrifice almost anything, even jeopardize the very foundations of our political unity, if they might exact personal gain from the upheaval. In that they know no nobler purpose than their own appetites, we should feel sorry for them. However, we must not allow our sympathies for their barren condition to persuade us that there is worth in their destructive misconduct. They must be left to the consequences of their own devices.
“If truly I am a political leader as I am often described, then I have not the luxury of hasty, ill-conceived utterances. There are those who will use inflamed words to spark the passions of others. This may bring transient applause. But when the cheers fade, we shall only have further descended because their words were never inclined toward resolution and long-term improvement but toward short-term popularity and perpetual confrontation.”
Tinubu also suggested ways out of the crisis ignited by the emergence of Amotekun.
Said he: “This matter cannot be resolved on the pages of newspapers or by attributing negative motives to either side. The best way to resolve this is still for the two sides to enter private discussions. Either the governors should seek an official but private meeting with the Attorney-General, or the Attorney-General can initiate the contact. Since Amotekun is their initiative, the governors bear the greater onus in seeking the meeting.
“The meeting will initiate further discussion on how to resolve what appears to be a misunderstanding caused by an unfortunate lack of communication. Remedy the gap in communication and the misunderstanding will begin to disappear.
“Last, I again stress to well-intentioned Nigerians to shun those who employ heated language to inflame emotions. It does us no good to rush toward exaggerated statements that suggest calamity of the highest order. Don’t allow yourselves to be fodder for those who seek to divide us.”
