The Muslim Community of Oyo State has declared that Operation Amotekun will be a breeding place for anarchy rather than ensuring sustainable peace in the South West.
In a statement signed by the chairman of the community, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni and Secretary, Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade, said there is Christianization in the Amotekun Agenda.
The community particularly frowned at the marginalisation of Muslims in the appointments of top Amotekun officials named so far.
The statement reads in part:
“An ethnic militia such as Amotekun initiative is a breeding place for anarchy. It is an anathema to sustainable peace and good of the society. Other zones have already started agitating for their own, apparently with a view to balkanizing Nigeria;
We see Christianization in the Amotekun agenda. Five (5) State co-ordinators out of the (six) 6 are Christians. Of course, this is done covertly to relegate Muslims to second fiddle position, which has, over the years, been the practice in South Western establishments;
Until they bowed to pressure, requirements for enlisting into Amotekun militia were Reference Letters from the Church and Church-issued Birth Certificates;
The word ‘Amotekun’ (Leopard) is chosen from Jeremiah 5:6 and Hosea 13:7, all from the Bible, to tell the Muslims that, what we are talking about here is Church and State, Muslims are not relevant;
iv. The description of the Leopard itself, the animal which ‘lurks’ in a corner to attack its prey, portrays “stealth”, which is, pushing one idea forward, whereas there is a sinister one that will manifest later, which is proclamation of a Yoruba nations (through the back door);
i. The pettiness of some Christians in the corridors of power who could not masquerade their islamophobic tendency is worrisome. How can one fathom that an infinitesimal issue like Hijab would be loathed by some Christians in this Country, where as in Europe and U.S.A, Police Officers, Customs Officers and Immigration Officers wear Hijab;
It should also be pointed out that previous regional Corporations have never worked; Oyo and Osun established Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso. Today, the University is a shadow of its old self because of lack of cooperation between the governments of the two states. The same problem of funding that bedeviled LAUTECH may be the fate of Amotekun.
“The Amotekun recruits would be given Military Training. After accomplishing the task of flushing out criminals, what becomes of the militia, called Amotekun: the States will become wary of further funding and the Amotekun men would be discharged and unleashed on the society. The ranks of ‘trained’ Armed Robbers, Kidnappers, Bandits and Miscreants will swell up. Then we are back to square one.”
Sanni states further: “Except there is an ulterior motive, let the present security arrangement suffice, Let states, fund the Security Outfits they presently have; let there be synergy among the States even beyond the South West.
“Happily enough, the Federal Government has come up with the idea of Community Policing, which will start immediately? It will achieve all that Amotekun aims to achieve, on a more global scale, without resulting into anarchy;
“Let us use the opportunity of this medium to also advise our State Governors to be wary of technocrats in the public service, who are religious bigots. They see a window of opportunity in every policy of government, to oppress Muslims;
“It should also be pointed out here that, geo-political sentiments should be placed side by side with religious considerations, in all selections, appointments and policies of government.
“We say NO to Ethnic militia codenamed Amotekun, without being oblivious of the fact that, that move may have led to the Federal Government expediting action on Community Policing.”
