10 steps that should be taken as part of a charm offensive to make Operation Amotekun an irreversible phenomenon copied across all six geo-political zones

By Ayo Akinfe

(1) First of all, I would like to see the houses of assemblies in all six states across the southwest geo-political zone pass by-laws making Operation Amotekun an official and formal agency of government. They should pass something called the Security Outfit Bill 2020. That way, future state governors are compelled to keep funding the agency

(2) Operation Amotekun should appoint a high profile retired senior police officer or soldier as its chief commandant or controller-general. At the moment, Fatai Owoseni, the former Lagos State police commissioner is looking like the best man for the job

(3) A high profile chief executive should also be appointed. This person, who will be media savvy and charismatic, will be the public face of Operation Amotekun. Such a person should not be politically affiliated and if you ask me, I think it would best suit a diasporan who has not been tainted politically. It is this person who will lead the charm offensive as well as be responsible for running the secretariat

(4) This chief executive should look to recruit about 100,000 youths into Operation Amotekun where they will be paid at least N50,000 a month. This will be funded by the governors’ security votes. The Security Outfit Bill 2020 will state they from now on, the security vote paid to all governors will go straight to the Operation Amotekun secretariat

(5) Operation Amotekun’s chief commandant should seek to train all the youth under his command. Anyone wishing to continue his or her education should be trained at the expense of the organisation as long as they commit to remaining with Operation Amotekun for say a 10 year period. Everyone who signs up must be trained to at least an O’Level standard of education

(6) At least a third of Operation Amotekun’s operatives should be female. This will allay a lot of fears that it is a congregation of thugs and hoodlums

(7) We should look for the sharpest, most creative and the most innovative tailor in Nigeria to design Operation Amotekun’s uniforms. They should be as trendy as that of airline staff and be made from our tradition ankara, aso oke or guinea brocade material

(8) Operation Amotekun staff should organise a quarterly football tournament where they play matches against the military, police, genuine Fulani cattle herdsmen and Igbo traders associations. This will be to send out the message that the only people who have anything to fear from Operation Amotekun are the criminals, kidnappers, murderers and their backers

(9) Operation Amotekun should put together an investment security video in which it guarantees all foreign investors that it will provide security for any investment they make across southwest Nigeria. Basically, they will be saying: “With Operation Amotekun your investments are safe.” Investors will pay a token security fee to cover these costs and in turn will be offered 24 hour protection

(10) Over time, Operation Amotekun should look to extend its operations to cover issues like adult literacy classes, farmer education, climate change information, antenatal service provision and skills provision through the opening of a technical college. As it recruits more graduates and skilled personnel, it will be able to provide more services