— Says Amotekun, local intelligence key to regional peace
By Fisayo Akinduro
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Energy Limited, Mr Femi Meshe, has called for stronger collaboration among South-West governors to prioritise security as the foundation for sustainable development and democratic stability in the region.
Meshe, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, made the call while speaking at the ongoing South-West Summit themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Enchanting the Future.”
He lauded the initiative behind the summit, describing it as a timely platform for leaders and stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues affecting the region.
“I’m glad we can hold this kind of event — today’s summit — to put our heads together and deliberate for the betterment of South-West Nigeria. I welcome it 110%,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, Meshe said he fully supports the issues being addressed, noting that his major concern lies in strengthening security across the region.
“I’m a security expert, and for me, security is key. It’s paramount in any business — both in our private lives and working environment. I want to see how security can be further developed in South-West Nigeria. That is my forte, and I’m hoping our governors will prioritise security more than anything else,” he stated.
Meshe commended Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for his commitment to securing the state, adding that other South-West governors are equally working hard to safeguard their respective states.
“Our governor in Ondo is very, very interested in securing his state, and I’m sure his fellow counterparts in other South-West states are doing the same. We have Amotekun, and we should continue to support it,” he said.
The APC stalwart further emphasised the importance of community participation in intelligence gathering, saying that residents should be empowered to collaborate with security agencies.
“As far as I’m concerned, what I would suggest is that the public — the man on the street — needs to be involved. There should be human intelligence gathering from the locals because they know their environment and can identify suspicious individuals,” Meshe explained.
He urged governments to make provisions in their budgets to support local intelligence efforts, stressing that information gathering should be incentivised.
“Security is about intelligence. Intelligence gathering helps us apprehend culprits within our communities. They are not ghosts — they are people we know, our neighbours and friends. So, if we empower the locals and develop a structure for them to share information with law enforcement, we’ll go a long way in securing our region,” Meshe added.
He reiterated his unwavering support for Amotekun, saying the regional security outfit remains a crucial pillar in the fight against crime and instability in the South-West.