- Recruitment is merit-based – Amotekun board chair
Shina Abubakar, Osogbo
As the Osun State Amotekun Corps started recruitment of 1000 cadets into the service, some recruits have alleged nepotism, alleging that they were chased out of the training camp in favour of selected Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members.
The chased cadets, who were seen outside of the NYSC camp venue used for the training exercise, said the authority sent them packing on the ground that they have affiliation with the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking on their behalf, a sacked cadet who simply identified himself as Usman, said they were in camp since Sunday only to be sent packing and replaced with PDP members, adding that even those that were not fit were allowed to remain in the camp.
Explaining the rationale behind Amotekun’s decision, the corps’ Board Chairman, AIG Wale Abass, rtd, described the allegations as baseless, saying those that were sent packing did not meet the requisite needed to work as Amotekun Corps.
He added that selection of prospective corps members spread across the 30 local government and the area office on merit, adding that those spreading allegations were do so to blackmail the corps and the process.
His words, “The 1,000 cadets who were invited to the camp underwent a rigorous selection process. They first submitted their application forms online, which were then reviewed for completeness and accuracy. Following that, we invited all applicants for further scrutiny, including submission of academic credentials and verification of results.
“Only those who passed these stages were invited to undergo physical screening and fitness tests. It was only after passing these thorough assessments that the selected candidates were invited to report to the camp.
“However, during the camp, it became apparent that some individuals who were not selected for training managed to gain access to the camp premises. Additionally, some of the selected candidates failed to arrive within the stipulated deadline.
“These issues were promptly addressed, and we ensured that those who had not been selected were sent back home, while those who had health issues, as identified by our professional instructors, were also disqualified from continuing the training”.
He added that Osun Amotekun Corps remains steadfast in its commitment to serving all citizens impartially and without bias, saying, “the allegations that have been spread are not only false but are part of an orchestrated effort to create confusion and distrust”.
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