By: Odeh Ramon, Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining and consolidating the prevailing peace and security in all the eight local government areas of the state.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, stated this while officially receiving a draft copy of the proposed bill on the Community Peace Commission from the State Peace Architecture (SPA), a non-governmental organization, at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.

Dr. Peter Akpe, who clarified that there were several legislations on peace and security in the state, such as the anti-cultism, anti-kidnapping laws, amongst others, said the proposed bill, when passed into law, would complement the existing laws.

He, however, pointed out that the proposed bill would first be thoroughly appraised by appropriate government institutions to ensure that the legal framework was in harmony with extant laws on peace and security in Bayelsa State.

Emphasizing the overriding importance of peace and security to development, the Deputy Governor noted that Bayelsa needed to establish a security trust fund, such as the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF), to get all stakeholders involved.

He said, “I want to appreciate your organization for this initiative and gesture. Talking about peace, we have several legislations; some are due for amendment. We have the anti-kidnapping law, the secret cults prohibition law, and the anti-open grazing law. All these laws we made are to institutionalize our control of these security-related issues in the state.

“This draft proposal will be sent to the appropriate quarters. But I want you to know that efforts are underway for our state to have a Security Trust Fund. For that purpose, we have sent an amendment bill to the House of Assembly.

“The reason is that the way the Education Development Trust Fund is running now, that is the way we need a security trust fund to be running also in the state.”

Presenting the draft proposal bill of the Community Peace Commission to Dr. Akpe, on behalf of the State Peace Architecture (SPA), Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange intimated to the deputy governor that the document was in three parts, covering communities, local government councils, and the state.

Senator Amange, who is the Chairman of the drafting committee of the bill, expressed hope that the proposal would be given expedited action by the appropriate organs of government.

Also lending his voice to the draft bill, the State Co-ordinator of SPA, Dr. Preye Inebaraton, highlighted the principles embedded in the proposed law, stating that the SPA had support from the European Union, Search for Common Ground, and other partners.

While applauding the state government for strategic investments in the security sub-sector, he said, it had contributed largely to making Bayelsa one of the most peaceful states in the country.

According to Dr. Inebaraton, the SPA has the structure to effectively address conflicts using a non-kinetic approach at the community level through the community peace architecture volunteers.

The Member representing Yenagoa Constituency One in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Chief Ayibanegiyefa Egba, Consortium Manager, Search for Common Ground, Mr. Chorbe Joshua Gonlur, the Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Bayelsa Chapter, Mrs. Grace Orumieyefa, her FIDA counterpart, Dr. Boma Miebai, a representative of the DO Foundation, Tokoni Dufegha, among other critical stakeholders of the SPA, were part of the delegation.