The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday warned the Federal Government that its inability to secure life and property in the country would soon leave citizens with no choice but to arm themselves in self-defence.
Akeredolu, who gave the warning while delivering the keynote address at the meeting of the Attorney-Generals of the 36 States of Nigeria held in Lagos, said the police were overwhelmed.
The governor asked the police to “close shop” if the Federal Government could not meet their equipment needs.
Akeredolu insisted that the police had failed in their constitutional role of protecting Nigerians.
“We will carry arms very soon, Oga Malami (the AGF), there is no other way, the police have failed,” the governor declared.
In his address at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said state governors cannot continue to agitate for restructuring and state police when they are responsible for the compromise and mismanagement of the current system.
Malami said state governors who have taken over the allocations of local governments in their states have no moral 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.
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