Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the State Security Network Agency Bill 2020 codenamed Operation Amotekun, into law.
The Amotekun corps bill proposed by Governor Seyi Makinde was passed following a clause-by-clause consideration before a third reading and final adoption on the floor of the house yesterday.
The House Committee on Security and Special Duties had earlier presented its report at the plenary.
The bill had earlier scaled through the first and second readings during an extensive debate on the floor of the House after the draft bill was transmitted to the House.
Moreso, it was transferred to the Committee on Security And Strategy, headed by the lawmaker representing Ibadan North West II Akeem Obadara after which the House conducted a public hearing attended by traditional rulers, farmers, driver unions, and other stakeholders, on Monday 24th of last month
Speaking on the floor on Tuesday, Obadara noted that the bill proposal was a product of extensive deliberation by critical stakeholders.
The lawmaker pointed out that its provisions were painstakingly subjected to clause-by-clause and point-by-point scrutinisation at the public hearing.
The Speaker at the plenary on Tuesday, Debo Ogundoyin expressed optimism that the bill when sign into law would stem the tide of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other manifestation of criminalities that have continued to constitute hindrances to people’s normal social and economic life.
According to him, by passing this bill, the House would have made history and would be creating big strides towards providing and ensuring that all persons travelling along the highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterland, and forest are free to participate in their normal social and economic life without fear or hindrance.
While saying the House had fulfilled its fundamental responsibility of making people-oriented laws that would guarantee adequate protection of lives and property of the people of Oyo State, the Speaker said that “one of the major concerns has always been the issue kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and all other forms of criminalities. We believe that this bill will provide the needed security for our people”.
Ogundoyin who expressed confidence that governor Makinde would be thorough with the implementation after assent, stated that “we can rest assured that the implementation will be thorough because we have not passed this bill in vain.
“You don’t need to preach to the converts. We have a governor who is an Amotekun himself and we have not passed the bill in vain, so you can be rest assured that the law will be accorded speedy assent by the governor,” he said.
The speaker who further spoke on some amendments being sought to the final copy by members said “you can’t get a perfect law anywhere and if you pass a law and if it becomes problematic tomorrow, then the mechanism of the amendment will set in.
While commending the members of the security committee for the public hearing conducted, he stressed that they didn’t shortcut any of the stipulated rules of the House to arrive at the conclusion.
The report, he however said, encapsulated the views of the people, who are yearning for a well secured and well-protected environment.
With the passage by the House, the bill is ready to be transmitted to Governor Makinde for assent.
The bill is to create a security network that would collaborate with and assist the Police and other security agencies to curb crimes like kidnappings, robbery, and banditry, among others.
Meanwhile, majority of the legislators wore customised outfits in the shade of leopard skin in form of amulets and armbands.
