Some candidates of some political parties participating in the July 16 Osun governorship poll have disagreed with the suggestion that operatives of the Amotekun corps should bear arms.
But the candidates, however, rejected the idea of asking residents to bear arms for self defence in the face of insecurity.
Speaking at a debate organised a national television in Osogbo, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress at the poll, said since men of Amotekun corps would be engaging criminals who bear arms, it would be desirable for the operatives of the corps to bear arms.
But the candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, who said if elected, more able people would be recruited into Amotekun corps, said operatives of the corps should not be allowed to bear arms as the constitution forbids them from doing so.
Proferring solutions to the security challenges facing the state, candidate of Social Democratic Party, Mr. Goke Omigbodun, said he would rely on technology to gather intelligence and called for devolution of power to enable individual states to handle their security.
The candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Lasun Yusuff, promised to develop a security framework that would involve Community Development Associations that would work with men of Amotekun corps to provide security, adding that if elected he would push for an amendment of the constitution to enable governors to take charge of security of their states.
Commenting, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, promised to empower the police with the right equipment and gadgets, adding that neighborhood watch would also be introduced to complement the efforts of the conventional security men.
Credit/Punch