Ekiti Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Monday said the bill seeking legal backing for the Western Nigeria Security outfit code-named ‘Operation Amotekun’ initiated by the six Governors in the Southwest region would be simultaneously assented to on Friday, February 14.

Fayemi, who disclosed this while receiving proposal bill on Amotekun from Ekiti Attorney-General, Olawale Fapohunda, said the bill when enacted will give the security outfits legal strengthen for sustainability.

The governor said that the draft bill will be extensively discussed during the State’s Executive Council meeting on Wednesday for immediate transmission to the House of Assembly.

He pointed out that Amotekun was conceived by the six governors as a regional response to curb the scourge of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and all forms of criminalities facing the region.

He noted Amotekun was in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s security initiative on community policing primarily to curb the worrisome security challenges afflicting the country.

Fayemi debunked insinuation by those against the security outfit that it was targeted at a particular ethnic group, noting Amotekun was not to give exclusive protection for Yoruba people but every law-abiding resident in the region regardless of their tribe and ethnic affiliation.

“A lot of people have misconstrued about the essence of the Amotekun security network. It is not about exclusive protection of indigenes of the South West.

“It is about the safety and security of every person resident in the six states of the South West, regardless of where they might have come from.

“As long as there are legitimately and legally resident in every part of the states, we consider it our duty, we consider it our responsibility to protect them as long as their within the jurisdiction.

“Even though I have not read the bill, I am sure this is what this bill proposes. I am not sure the bill is for protection of Yoruba people living in the six states. It is going to talk on ensuring our highways are free from banditry, armed robberies, kidnappers and all forms of brigandage.

“To that extent, it is a logical extension of the community policing initiative that President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to that the Inspector General of Police has already communicated to various police formations across the country.

“Together with my colleagues, we have promised ourselves that this bill will be given accelerated discussions in our various State Executive Council meetings this week and send it expeditiously to our various State houses of Assembly this week.

“Our discussion with our speakers who have been waiting for the bill to the extent that they are recalling some of their members from recess in order to give this bill accelerated passage in the various legislatures.

“Latest by Friday,14th February 2020 the bill that hopefully will have been passed into law will be assented to simultaneously in the six states of the South West and will hope the team in charge of it will start the implementation of the Amotekun corps immediately,” he added.

While presenting the proposed bill, Fapohunda said the South West Houses of Assembly had promised to give the bill accelerated passage.

He added the proposed bill with about 38 provisions was painstakingly prepared with specifications from each of the states which outlined the operational guidelines for the security network.

“The Attorney-General of the six states have been working on an enabling legal framework to give Amotekun legal strengthen.

“All of us would present the bill to our various governors for subsequent discussions at our various state executive councils.

“We have proposed 38 various provisions in the bill, key provisions in the bill include the establishment of Ekiti State Security network agency including its functions and objectives, the creation and the composition of the governing board for the agency, establishment of Ekiti state amotekun corps including powers, criteria for enlistment into the corps, and as well as several other needs.

“We have also included a provision for independent amotekun corps complaints board. The purpose of the board is to provide an opportunity for our people to report instances of possible cases of abuse of power including violation of rights and corruption. We have also included copious provisions on the funding of the corps to ensure sustainability.

“And in line with the Fayemi led administration’s policy of transparency and accountability, we would place a copy of this bill on the ministry of justice website by 5 pm today to enable interested persons to view the bill and possibly comment,” he said

The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon Seriake Dickson has Commissioned the Bayelsa State International Airport Located at Wilberforce Island Under the Chairmanship of HRM, King Alfred Diette Spiff.

The governor in his remark expressed deep gratitude to God to have given the courage to initiate the gigantic and life-transforming project. He also expressed gratitude to his team for their support in the past eight years and the solidarity he has enjoyed from all strata of leadership in the state.

In his words, ‘Early last year, we witnessed the landing of two flights on this same airport and a few days ago, the airforce equally landed, marking the commencement of their operations at the airport. This commissioning is historic and will amongst other benefits, outlive us all and continue to serve the people of Bayelsa State’.

The governor used the opportunity to give credit to late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha whose government conceptualized what has come to fruition today.

Dickson who throughout his government has upheld and continued to honour all Ijaw leaders both living and dead used the occasion to name the Airport Road which was equally commissioned after the Late Chief DSP Alamieyeseighs, first civilian governor of Bayelsa State.

Today, we are changing the narrative that there’s not just an airstrip in Bayelsa, the heart of Ijaw land but an International Airport. This project will continue to take our people to the world and bring the world to our people.

We as a people have been neglected for too long and we are far behind others even our closest neighbours. So when we talk about building schools, hospitals and airports, some can’t understand that our people have been left behind and urgently need to catch up.’

It took a year and six months to sand-fill this place because our terrain is treacherous. Everything that is seen in the airport, was put together by the Bayelsa State Government. There is no single gain of Federal Government sand in this airport. The Bayelsa State Government built this airport from start to finish.

The initial agreement was for the federal government to construct it but at the pace, they were going, it would have stalled so it was agreed that the Federal Government construct and equip the terminal building while the state government, the runway. But there was a change in government in 2015 and the agreement was not observed so we took it upon ourselves to embark on the project which we are commissioning today.

Governor Dickson used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to be alive to their responsibility and build the terminal building that was agreed upon as there was still room for a bigger one.‘ The landing equipment is of international standard as we spared no effort nor resource in securing the best because our people deserve it.’

‘For the records, this airport has never been flooded as critics have claimed in the past. The strategic location of the airport is such that it opens up directly to the Gulf of Guinea.’

The governor used the opportunity again to call on the Federal Government and the authorities to expedite the required approvals for commercial operations to commence.

He also called on Bayelsans who understand clearly the treacherous terrain Bayelsa has but feign ignorance for political reasons should desist from such and rather support the development of our state instead of engaging in the peddling of uninformed speculations.

The governor also stated that his government is open to any form of scrutiny about the airport as the books are open.‘We cannot solve all the problems but I and my team came, seen and have done our best. We leave the rest for posterity to judge.’
‘It is on this note, I officially unveil the Bayelsa International Airport for the use of Bayelsans, Ijaw people and the entire nation, to the glory of God almighty.’

The event was attended by Royal fathers from Ijaw speaking communities and dignitaries from across the State.

See photos below: