Southwest Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (SWARHOSPS) has hailed Governors in the region for coming up with the Amotekun corps to nip insecurity ravaging the region in the bud.
The association also enjoined the Federal Government to assist state governments in the region in funding the Amotekun Corps.
The association expressed satisfaction with the funding of Amotekun Corps in Ondo state.
The SWARHOSPS President, Mr. Olusola Okebukola, who stated this at the 5th Quarterly General Meeting of the association in Akure, expressed worries over the level of insecurity in the country.
The President also urged the federal government to support regional security outfits in the interest of Peace and National development.
Okebukola lamented that the recurring spates of insecurity on the nation had affected the socioeconomic activities of all Nigerians.
According to him, the group would not relent on its objectives, amongst others, to “promote good government inclusiveness for the good of all retired civil servants in the region in particular and national in general.”
Okebukola urged the Southwest governors to constantly deploy strategies that will significantly enhance the security of lives and properties, pleading that “the Federal Government should cooperate with the state governments in eradicating insecurity, very essential.
“State government is doing enough to finance State Security Network known as Amotekun, the Federal Government should assist them. It will help them in the performance of their duty since they are collaborating with the police.”
He, however, lauded the governors for their efforts so far in tackling the challenges of insecurity, saying “it is still a long way to Tipperary.”
He also commended the governors for establishing South West Agric Company (SWAGco), adding that “this move will not only lay foundation for food security in the region but will also serve as launching pad to economic development.”
In a remark, the Ondo State SWARHOSPS President, Dr Laoye Adegoke, said “the existential problems vary from mindless insecurity through progressively collapsing economy to free-fall corruption which has become the new norm in our society.
“We should be worried that a greater percentage of our youths’ demographic is already trapped in the illicit yahoo business, with unemployment, which is a recognized precursor of poverty, fingered as the main cause of this unwholesome development.”
He enjoined the association to “go beyond our current posture of eloquent silence to stand up to be counted in support of the worthy causes being pursued by governors of the six states within the Southwest region.”
He listed the noble causes of the Southwest governors to include: security, education, corruption and restructuring, describing them as common denominators to solve the present problems in the region.
Declaring the meeting open, the state’s Head of Service, Mr. John Adeyemo, recounted the landmark achievements of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration and reforms in the public service.
Adeyemo stressed that the state government, through continued collaboration, would not relent from playing pivotal roles at ensuring regional integration and national development for the benefit of the people.
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