Makinde warns successor against scrapping Amotekun, other Oyo agencies

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has challenged his successor to preserve key institutions established by his administration, warning that dismantling them could weaken governance, security and economic development in the state.

Makinde spoke during the commissioning of the new office complex of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA), where he argued that the agencies created since he assumed office in 2019 were designed to serve residents beyond his tenure.

The governor said the institutions should not be scrapped without justification, insisting that administrations committed to Oyo State’s progress should build on existing structures rather than dismantle them.

Among the agencies he wants retained are OYRLEA, the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), the Oyo State Project Performance Monitoring Agency, the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socioeconomic Development (OYMASED) and the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA).

Makinde said his administration’s legacy should be judged not only by infrastructure projects but also by institutions established to promote accountability, stability and continuity in government.

“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.

The governor maintained that the agencies were created to address specific needs in the state and should remain operational after he leaves office.

His remarks come as attention gradually shifts towards the 2027 political transition, with Makinde expected to complete his second term in May next year.

At the commissioning ceremony, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly Adebo Ogundoyin said the legislation establishing OYRLEA reflected the Assembly’s commitment to creating legal frameworks for addressing practical challenges and strengthening public order.

Ogundoyin said the authority was responsible for enforcing state laws covering environmental protection, sanitation, waste control, road traffic management and open rearing and grazing.

He appealed to the agency to carry out its responsibilities transparently and responsibly, while calling on residents, traders, motorists, business owners and community leaders to cooperate with its officers.

Earlier, OYRLEA chairperson Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd.) described the opening of the new office complex and the unveiling of the authority’s maiden magazine as important steps towards strengthening its operations.

She said the authority had intensified enforcement of the state’s open rearing and grazing regulation through monitoring, public education and collaboration with traditional institutions, local governments and security agencies.

Aderemi also commended Makinde for supporting the authority and the state assembly for providing the legal framework for its establishment.

The new office complex was commissioned as the governor renewed his call for future administrations to sustain the institutions, including Amotekun, that his government established.