The solidarity rally in support of Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), code-named Operation AMOTEKUN, is currently ongoing at the Remembrance Arcade in front of Oyo State Government House, at Oke Oyinbo, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital.
Many socio-cultural and political organisations in Yorubaland are participating in the rally.
The groups that have arrived for the rally included Yoruba Reconciliation Group, Atayese, Agbekoya Solidarity Movement of Nigeria, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association, Soludero Hunters and the Oodua Liberation Movement.
Some other groups parcipating in the rally are the United Self Determination People Oodua Revolutionary Movement, Yoruba Sovereignty Defence Agenda, Iparapo Omo Oodua and Majiyage.
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The rally is being led by the Oyo State Coordinator of Yoruba World Congress.
The participants in the rally, it was observed, have been conducting themselves orderly so far.
Also, there is heavy presence of security agencies around the venue of the rally. It was also gathered, however, that the security agents were only observing the protest and making sure everyone was orderly.
The security agencies on ground include the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The organisers of the rally also brought a mobile live band to the rally ground, singing different songs in support of Operation AMOTEKUN and in support of the six governors in the South West. Many of them repeatedly shouted Amotekun! Amoteku!! Amotekun!!!
The participants also carry banners with inscriptions tha include: ‘On Amotekun we stand,’ ‘No Amotekun, No Hisbah,’ ‘Who owns the land: Amotekun,’ ‘Who wants to know who owns the land! Amotekun,’ ‘Yoruba Omo Oodua!! Protect yourselves: Amotekun.’
Chief Security Officer of Yoruba World Congress (YWC) Evangelist Kunle Adesokan, who is the coordinator of YWC, in Oyo State, told journalists during an interview that the action taken was not a protest, but a solidarity rally in support of the six governors of the South West on the launch of Operation AMOTEKUN.
According to him, “We are here to tell the six governors of the South West that we are behind them on this project, Operation Amotekun.
“We want Governor Makinde to continue his good work. The message of the leader of YWC, Prof. Banji Akintoye, is that the six governors should not reverse what they are doing on Operation AMOTEKUN.
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“We also use the medium to warn perpetrators of crimes and criminalities in Yorubaland to have a rethink. Operation AMOTEKUN is not against any tribe, but criminals in our midst.
“We are against kidnapping, banditry, destruction of farmlands, raping of our girls and women, and we are against armed robbery.
“If you don’t love Amotekun, you don’t love Yoruba. If you don’t love Yoruba, you don’t love Nigeria. So, Amotekun has come to state. Provision of security can be said to be environmental and the governors have the constitutional powers to protect the lives and property of people in their environment.
“Whether you are an indigent or not, we are not against you. If you are doing your legitimate business, you don’t have any reason to be afraid of Amotekun.”
But orgnaisers said the solidarity walk would be restricted to the Remembrance Arcade on the grounds that if the walk was staged to other parts of Ibadan, it could be hijacked by hoodlums.
