The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday cautioned the Federal Government that its incapacity to secure life and property in the country would soon leave citizens with no choice but to arm themselves in self-defence.
Akeredolu gave this caution while delivering the keynote speech at the meeting of the Attorney-Generals of the 36 States of Nigeria held in Lagos, said the police were vanquished.
The governor asked the police to “close shop” if the Federal Government could not meet their kit needs.
Akeredolu affirmed that the police had ceased to function in their constitutional role of protecting Nigerians.
Akeredolu announced that:
“We will carry arms very soon, Oga Malami (the AGF), there is no other way, the police have failed,”
In his address at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said state governors cannot proceed to arouse for restructuring and state police when they are accountable for the concession and mismanagement of the current system.
Malami said state governors who have taken over the issuances of local governments in their states have no strict right to ask for restructuring.
“The present controversies surrounding the Paris/London Club loan refunds could have been avoided if the NGF/state governments and ALGON, who engaged the services of consultants and contractors honoured their agreements.
“NGF and ALGON have not denied engaging the consultants and contractors on behalf of their respective states and local governments,” Malami said.