Tension in Anambra as Assembly amends state's vigilante law, pass bill

www.odogwublog.com reports that tension is brewing between the Anambra state Executive led by Governor Willie Obiano and the National Association of Anambra state Town Unions (ASATU) following the passage of a bill to amend the Anambra state vigilante law 2014 by the State House of Assembly.
The bill which emanated from the Executive was passed after a debate on it by the lawmakers during yesterday’s plenary in Awka.
The National President of ASATU had earlier led his entire members to the Speaker Right Hon Rita Maduagwu to stop the passage of the law which would entrust the security of the communities on the Traditional rulers rather than the President Generals.
The Speaker agreed to look into their request only for them to pass it into law following pressure from the executive and the President Generals are now kicking to abandon security to the monarchs to see how they would handle it.
The bone of contention is who handles the between N500,000 and N2, 000,000 shared to each community every Christmas to assist in keeping security and maintaining roads. This started from former Governor Peter Obi era and Obiano continued it and it has been subject of controversy in most communities.

Anambra State Group Vigilante Law was passed in 2014 but the law was sent back to the House by the Executive to make amendments in certain sections which had prevented it from functioning effectively.

In the old law, the state supervisory council appoints vigilante Chairmen from each community but in the amended bill, the Chairman of Anambra State Vigilante Group Supervisory Committee now appoints the Chairmen of Vigilante Groups in the state.
According to the bill, the Chairman of Anambra State Group Vigilante Supervisory Committee must be a Traditional Ruler or His Representative, a man of integrity and impeccable character and resident in the state for fifteen years.

The House majority leader and Chairman, House Committee on Police and Security, Mr Victor Okoye, also revealed that the bill provides that the President-General of a community will be the Secretary-General of the Vigilante Group Supervisory Committee.

In their contributions, the Deputy Speaker, Chief Hafford Oseke, the member representing Nnewi South One Constituency, Mr Kingsley Iruba, his Njikoka Two Constituency counterpart, Dr Pete Ibida and others, noted that the bill would help in provision of adequate security for the lives and property of the citizens.

The Speaker, Barrister Rita Maduagwu, who read the bill called on vigilante groups to always work with the police in policing the state adequately.