By Dotun Akintomide, The New Diplomat Online Editor
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has distanced itself from the position of the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN). The NYCN had openly critized the inauguration of the new Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) , codenamed “Operation Amotekun” inaugurated by the six southwest governors, in Ibadan on Thursday as a breach of the Nigerian constitution.
But in a public statement explaining his position and that of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, president of the AYCF said contrary to reports , he is in total support of the “Operation Amotekun “ initiative , stressing that he distances himself from a northern group which is opposed to Amotekun. According to him, he is a proponent of community policing and that the South West governors initiative is highly laudable as long as it is meant to protect lives and property.
He said; “ I am an advocate of Community Policing. If I now come out to condemn the inauguration of Amotekun in the South –West that is counter productive. So I commend the initiative and I will encourage the citizens to cooperate with the system to ensure effective operation which certainly will bring about secured society.”
Recall that a few hours after the inauguration of the security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’, a Northern group, named Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) had in a statement by its National President, Isah Abubakar, kicked against the formation of the security outfit, describing it as an “unconstitutionality” and a military wing of the OPC. This had attracted counter replies from the OPC. The Lagos state coordinator of OPC, Mutairu Adesina while quickly reacting to the statement had described the group’s comment as inciting and capable of causing unnecessary tension in the country.
But Yerima, in a statement today sued for mutual undestanding while urging the Northern Governors Forum(NGF) to come up with a similar initiative constitutionally recognized to protect the North, saying” it is a good thing that even the North-West governors are already thinking along that direction.” Similarly, Ohanaeze’s president Chief Nnia Nwodo who reacted through his Special Adviser on Media, Emeka Attama said: “The launching of Operation Amotekun by the South West is laudable…”
