Makinde warns successor against scrapping Amotekun, other Oyo agencies

By Adejayan Gbenga

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has warned his successor against scrapping the Amotekun security network and other agencies established by his administration, urging the incoming government to sustain the institutions beyond his tenure.

Makinde gave the warning on Thursday during the commissioning of the newly constructed office complex of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA).

The governor, whose second and final term is expected to end in May 2027, said the agencies were established to address specific governance needs and should not be dismantled by the next administration.

He listed the agencies to be retained as OYRLEA, the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, the Oyo State Project Performance Monitoring Agency, the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socioeconomic Development and the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency.

According to Makinde, the institutions were created to promote orderliness, strengthen governance, enforce compliance with the law, monitor government projects and improve socioeconomic development across the state. He warned that scrapping them could undermine the progress recorded in these areas.

The governor maintained that an administration committed to Oyo State’s future should prioritise the continuity of institutions that serve the public rather than dismantle them for political or administrative reasons.

“At the heart of good governance is the rule of law. When people know their rights and security agencies enforce the law without bias, you have order, investors come in, and the economy improves. That is what we have experienced in Oyo State,” he said.

Makinde’s warning comes as political attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 transition, with the future of the agencies likely to feature in discussions about policy continuity and governance under his successor.