The speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has informed that the House will amend the constitution to back various security interventions in parts of the country.
The speaker revealed this while delivering his welcome address at the beginning of plenary.
This move is coming on the heels of controversy trailing the new paramilitary outfit in the South-west region known as Amotekun which was launched on January 9 to complement the efforts of the police in tackling insecurity.
İt would be recalled that the federal government had initially declared it unconstitutional, howbeit, both the federal government and governors from the registration later agreed that the group should be organised to conform with the government’s community policing model.
The speaker noted that the idea of Amotekun and other security interventions became necessary due to the rising insecurity across the country.
“Too often, it has seemed to me that lost in these interactions is the hard, brutal and unavoidable fact that Àmòtékùn and other such state or zonal interventions that already quietly exist in other parts of the country are a desperate response to the vile manifestations of insecurity that trouble the lives of citizens, depriving them of the peace and security that gives life meaning.
“I do not know that Àmòtékùn or whatever iterations of it may follow represents the ultimate or perfect solution to the problem of insecurity in our country. Nobody does that”.
Gbajabiamila also noted the localised manifestations of insecurity across the different parts of Nigeria calls for unique and localised approaches that take those peculiarities into account.
“What I also know is that whichever approach we seek, we are obligated to work within the limits imposed by the constitution to which we all swear allegiance.
“I am certain in the knowledge that doing nothing is not an option. We have a responsibility as legislators to support the best efforts of those who act with noble intent to protect our citizens.
“I, therefore, call on the leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader to take active steps to bring to the floor, appropriate amendments to the constitution that will ensure that these and other righteous interventions to protect the life and property of our citizens are firmly in compliance with the laws of the land,” he said.
