Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo State and chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, has lamented the inability of the government to protect lives and property, warning that Nigerians may soon have no option but to bear arms in self-defence.
Akeredolu, who is delivering the keynote address at the opening of the ongoing Attorneys-General of the 36 States, spoke against the backdrop of the recent horrendous attack on Owo Church by terrorists.
According to the Ondo governor, the police are already overwhelmed by the growing security threats in the country.
He said the police blamed non-availabilty of vehicles for their inability to mobilise to the scene of the recent Owo attack.
The Governor asked the Police to “close shop” if the Federal Government could not meet its equipment needs,” noting that, “The Police have failed.”
He argued the mass killings, kidnappings and other serious security failures around the country had shown that a central police command was ineffective to keep Nigerians safe.
Akeredolu lamented the Federal Government’s security failure had put Nigerians in danger.
Addressing AGF, he said: “We will carry arms very soon. Oga Malami. There is no other way.”
The Governor further challenged states to restructure the country by, among others, setting up their own anti-graft agencies.
Other speakers are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Olumide Akpata and Director-General of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Asishana Okauru.
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Simon Lalong (Plateau) are expected to speak at the meeting, which is currently ongoing.