Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, has called for an amendment of the constitution to back special security interventions such as Amotekun, the regional outfit in the south-west.
Speaking at the resumption of plenary on Wednesday, Gbajabiamila said the lower legislative chamber will support any measure to improve the safety of lives of Nigerians.
The south-west governors established Amotekun to help improve the security situation in the region, but the federal government initially described it as illegal before agreeing to draw up a legal framework for it.
But Gbajabiamila, who lamented the growing insecurity across Nigeria, said “neither the security institutions nor political leaders can afford to hold on too tightly to a status quo whose frustrating limitations are painfully evident.”
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“I do not know that Amotekun or whatever iterations of it may follow represents the ultimate or perfect solution to the problem of insecurity in our country. Nobody does that,” he said.
“What I do know with absolute clarity and certainty is that the localised manifestations of insecurity across the different parts of our country call for unique and localised approaches that take those peculiarities into account.
“What I also know, is that whichever approach we seek, we are obligated to work within the limits imposed by the constitution to which we all swear allegiance.”
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He said the federal lawmakers have a responsibility to support the “best efforts of those who act with noble intent to protect our citizens.”
“I, therefore, call on the leader of the house of representatives and the minority leader to take active steps to bring to the floor, appropriate amendments to the constitution that will ensure that these and other righteous interventions to protect the life and property of our citizens are firmly in compliance with the laws of the land,” he added.
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