Traditional rulers in Ekiti State on Thursday lauded the state government’s approach to the recruitment of personnel into the Amotekun corps.
The monarchs assured of their support to the security outfit in achieving its goal of tackling kidnapping, cattle rustling, robbery and other nefarious activities in the state.
Speaking during a sensitisation meeting of the governing board of Amotekun in Ikole, Oye and Ilejemeje local governments areas, the chairman of the Traditional Council of Oye Local Government and the immediate past chairman of the state’s traditional council, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, said the engagement of traditional rulers in the recruitment exercise was a repeat of history that guarantee the victory of Ekiti people during the intra tribal “Kiriji” war of 1877.
Oba Ademolaju assured that traditional rulers in Yoruba land would give adequate support that would make Amotekun achieve the purpose of its establishment.
He said: “When we talk of security and now that the contact is being made through the Obas; history is only repeating itself. It has happened in the year 1877, during the intra tribal ‘kiriji’ war. We gathered people like this and got them donated to the Central Army of Ekiti and they faced Ibadan and they conquered them.
“Giving Obas the free hand in the selection of these people who are going to help now is just a repeat of what actually happened then and by this extension, surely success is ours.
“Yoruba Obas will support the Amotekun to achieve success.we will empower them like we empowered the people that fought ‘kiriji’ war.”
The Obanla of Ijesha Isu Oba Gabriel Oso who spoke on behalf of the monarchs in Ikole local government explained that the traditional rulers were ready to abide with the rules that guide the recommendation of applicants for recruitment into the security outfit.
Earlier, the chairman of the Amotekun board Akin Aregbesola said the visit was to sensitise the monarchs on the procedures guiding the recruitment process, their roles in recommending applicants to the board and the operations of the Amotekun corps.
Speaking on the recruitment process, the commandant of Amotekun corps Brigadier-General Joe Komolafe (rtd) disclosed that measures had been put in place to ensure that all the local governments in the State had equal representation in the outfit.
He noted that the recruitment exercise is gender sensitive, making it accessible to both male and female between the age of 18 and 60 years.
Clarifying that being a member of hunter’s association, vigilante groups and Odua people’s congress does not guarantee automatic employment into the outfit, Komolafe explained however that members of such organisations with proven record of integrity stand better chances than other applicants who are inexperienced in native security matters.
