Good research, certain-
ly, produced the name
“Amotekun” for the
new security outfit in
the south-west. It is sharp and apt
for its purpose. “Amotekun” is a
perfect symbol of safety, although
‘ekun’ is more explosive as a name.
“Amotekun” and “Ekun” mean the
same thing to the Yoruba. “Amtekun”
refers to every feline mammal,
with the exception of lion. Lion is
distinguished by the shaggy mane in
its male, which other males in the cat
family don’t have. Be it cheetah or ti-
ger, or jaguar or lynx or leopard, they
are called “ekun”, that wild, predatory
mammal with thick, soft fur, like that
of a lion, their step brother.
“Amotekun” depicts courage but
it also invokes fear among people,
although the Yoruba use “ekun”
more commonly. Many people see
‘Amotekun” on Nats Geo Wild. They
are conversant with its unique, mor-
tal acts. The wild cat is everywhere,
more dangerous than lion. It is faster,
considering cheetah, the swiftest
mammal ever with its long legs and
non-retractile claws. “Amotekun”,
leopard in this case, can climb. It can
jump; it can swim and it possesses
a strong sense of smell. It can sniff
a prey from a long distance. It can
pretend, stalk, ambush and then
pounce. By any means, no prey is safe
with a prying “amotekun”. That is its
essence in Yorubaland, to give people
confidence to move around, every-
where, without escorts, and sleep
without fright. People have been
killed in the region time and again by
kidnappers, robbers, assassins, herds-
men and others because security was
porous. Those who are excited about
“amotekun”, therefore, have every
reason to be. I am, too, but with little
inner fears.
How effective can “amotekun” be?
There is the interplay of idealism and
realism in its existence? Are Yoruba
leaders united on the project? Are the
governors ready? Will they not play
politics with it? That each south-west
state gave twenty patrol vehicles to
the project is not as imperative as
giving an open, unwavering com-
mitment to it. The absence of Lagos,
Ogun and Osun state governors from
amotekun’s inauguration in Ibadan
is a spot coming too early. Is there
something they are not telling us yet?
The biggest project in Yorubaland at
present is “amotekun”, bigger than
the launching of a new political party
where the absent governors would
have forced themselves to be. If they
are not showing total commitment
now, what fate befalls “amotekun” in
a few months from now?
There is every reason to worry.
Many joint projects between south-
west states have failed for lack of
commitment. Flourishing Daily
Sketch newspaper collapsed before
their very eyes. Who could have
imagined that! LAUTECH Ogbo-
moso is in financial straits. Both staff
and students there were neglected
for years. They can, for now, count
on Seyi Makinde’s exploits in Oyo
and hope for better times, soon. And
more! If the governors should play
that dangerous, lackadaisical game
with “amotekun”, anyone’s fear about
its survival is warranted then. The
states must just be ready to comple-
ment the Federal Government’s cold
approval of “amotekun” in concrete
terms. The Federal Government
never wanted Operation Amotekun
for some reasons. The misgivings
can be excused. But what about the
governors who agreed to found it and
later ran away on its day of inaugu-
ration! It will be a big letdown if the
governors will stand lamely with
arms akimbo and watch the pro-
ject fail? The operators would need
mobilization, training and retraining,
from time to time. They also need
good, steady wages. They shouldn’t
be tempted to turn into security
threat themselves, later on.
A meeting of the governors with
the commissioners of police as well
as military heads in the south-west is
crucial. It is one good way to prevent
unnecessary rivalry between the
security operatives and Amotekun
Operators. A united force is required
to conquer stubborn enemies and
aggressors. “Amotekun”, by nature,
doesn’t joke with unity. The cat fami-
ly, generally, doesn’t. It is a gregarious
family whose strength and strategy
to kill are derived from unity. The
three state governors not present at
the inauguration should show better
commitment. They should remember
that “Amotekun” is their baby. If it
fails, it is to their shame.
