Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, says he will explore every available legal and constitutional means to secure the state and its people.
The governor was reacting to the statement issued by Garba Shehu for the presidency which said no authorisation was given to any state to procure automatic weapons.
Akeredolu had alleged that the state security outfit in Katsina was allowed to carry Ak-47 rifles while his state was denied the same right.
He had also vowed to procure better weapons for Amotekun — the state security outfit.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Richard Olatunde, his chief press secretary, the governor said Shehu’s submission restraining state security outfits bearing automatic weapons was not practicable considering the security challenges bedeviling the nation.
The said the state cannot fight armed criminals with bare hands.
“The assertion of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity on the use of automatic weapons by State Security outfits betrays the current realities across the country,” the statement said.
“His attempt to justify the use of AK47 by the Vigilantes of Katsina State for training stands logic on it head.
“The report by the TVC News that went viral showed the Katsina State Vigilante training with AK47. This is the same weapon which approval has vehemently been refused for the use of Amotekun Corps and other State Security Outfits.
“The questions Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, asks are:
i. Where did the guns come from?
ii. Who approved their use?
iii. Were the guns returned to the armoury after use?
iv. The AK47, as seen from the TVC news report, was about usage. If not, what purpose does training with the guns serve?
“It is rather suspicious that Garba Shehu elected himself as the spokesperson for the Kastina State government. Whereas, the Katsina State has not come out openly to deny the statement of Governor Akeredolu on the use of AK47 by Vigilantes of Katsina State during training.”
Why are Ondo government spokesmen like this? Was the Presidency’s statement not clear enough to debunk the baseless claim by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu who pointedly asserted that FG approved the use of AK-47s for Katsina vigilantes. There was no where Mallam Garba Shehu spoke or attempted to speak for the Katsina government and the issue was clearly on the governor’s allegation which is obviously a false claim. Is there any shame in admitting that the governor got it wrong but no, they prefer to dig in and resort to chasing shadows.