‘Southwest Governors Not Serious About Security’ –Gen. Kunle Togun, former Deputy Director-General of SSS

Former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Security, DSS, Brig. Gen. Kunle Togun has said that the governors of South West states are not serious about the deteriorating security situation in the region but are busy with politics.

According to him, only the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State was interested in security.

His words: “Others are not interested in security. They are just spending security funds. The only governor who was truly concerned about security was Rotimi Akeredolu, and he is gone. Yoruba governors are only pursuing politics.

“I was Chairman of Amotekun (Oyo State). I didn’t apply for it. Governor Seyi Makinde said it would be difficult for me not to be invited on matters of security in Oyo State. Did he listen to me?

“There was a retired military officer, Colonel Adeleye Agbede. He called me one day and said we should meet at the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Mess, not far from Agodi Gate and very close to the deputy governor’s residence. So, we met there that day — himself, myself, General Oladayo Popoola and Colonel Yakubu Anifowose. The question was, ‘Are we just going to sit down and watch insecurity flourish in Yoruba land?’

“I said four people could not do it alone. We invited others. When we were about 15 retired military officers — Army, Air Force and Navy personnel of Yoruba extraction — we carried out an analysis. Three others and I were asked to prepare the security threat analysis for Yorubaland. We did it.

“Colonel Agbede said he had contacted Akeredolu and that Akeredolu was interested. When we finished, Colonel Agbede said he was travelling to the UK for a medical check-up. He later called and said he had met Akeredolu in London and requested that we send him two copies of the analysis. It was General Popoola who sent it to him. He went through it and said he was interested. At that time, he was Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. The man later returned and suffered a serious illness until he died.

“General Popoola gave a copy to Seyi Makinde and told him, ‘My friend, the Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Mess is very close to your house, try to branch there occasionally for security discussions.’

“When we talk about security, they are all interested in politics. About two years ago, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria conducted an analysis, wrote a report and handed it over to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the current chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. Till today, no action.

“They are collecting security votes. They are the number one security officers in their states. How can they be overwhelmed? They receive security votes, yet they are not paying attention to security.”