Kunle Adelabu
-Urges Tinubu to do everything to secure release of abducted pupils, teachers
The Governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Lagos State, Mr Sol-Nuyi Oluwadamola Adesoca, has called for the conversion of the one-year mandatory service – National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) – into military training to boost the country’s security.
He urged the President to activate the section of the NYSC Act, which states that corps members form an official part of the national reserve and make graduates serve in the military for them to be able to protect themselves, communities and the country at large.
Mt Adesoca who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, also pleaded with the President to do everything to secure the release of the abducted pupils in Ogbomosho.
“My candid advice to the President is to use everything that is on his table and at his disposal to tackle insecurity.”
He said some months back he had options on the table.
“After my graduation, I did my NYSC about two decades ago or more and the NYSC constitution says every corps member can be activated to help Nigeria in terms of security. Why not activate the NYSC constitutional provisions? The resource is there. Put them to work. Take them to military centres and train them for six months. They are graduates and they can help protect their neighbourhoods, their families, themselves and their children.
“The military is stretched. Two days ago, I asked a soldier what was really going on in Nigeria. He couldn’t explain. He said everything is politicised.”
The Governorship candidate who said that he went to school in Ogbomoso where he also had his second degree, expressed his disappointment that a community he described as peaceful and livable is now home of kidnappers.
“I schooled in Ogbomosho for seven years and I went back to do my masters for another two years. It’s a peaceful town, a beautiful town, an ancient town and very peaceful, but, I’m surprised that kids have been kidnapped with parents and treated in this way.
“This is too much. The government has to do something about it. I’m particularly pleading with Mr. President, because as the Constitution says, your first responsibility is to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.
“Kids are kidnapped and how they are being terrorised is being shown on social media. I can’t even watch it. What’s really going on?” asked the AAC Candidate.
He further charged the government to ensure that insecurity is curtailed in Nigeria.
“Parents are lamenting because those kids are their children. That’s why I have mothers here, because they know how it feels when a child is in pain.
“I want to implore the government. They should do everything in their capacity to make sure all these things stop in Nigeria. Nigeria is too insecure.
“We need security to develop our nation. A nation that is insecure can never develop. It’s not okay,” he added.
Speaking on his agenda for housing, Mr Adesoca, who said that every Lagosian is entitled to shelter and food, condemned the demolition exercise embarked upon recently in some parts of the state which he termed “land grabbing”:
“The fundamental human rights of every person have been enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Every government must provide decent homes, housing, decent food and other necessities.
“But when we talk about homes now, it’s just land grabbing. Demolition is just land grabbing. That’s what they are doing. You cannot make your people homeless and expect them to respect you and obey the laws of the land. It’s not possible.
“You have to help your people to have a standard of living. By demolishing their houses, you are making them poorer. You are not helping them.”
Speaking about his plans for housing for Lagosians, Mr Adesoca said:
“We want to come into the government and I want to implore people that when the time comes for election, vote for African Action Congress.
“We are going to provide housing. Not just housing, but proper housing. The kind of house that you and I will be proud of. The kind of house where children will have their own rooms, where they can play with their computers and toys. Not a place where there is no light and mosquitoes are everywhere.”
The AAC governorship candidate furthered in his assurances to Lagosians:
“Parents should be proud as Nigerian citizens. That is what we are going to do. We are going to build a lot of homes for our people. We have seen it. We have done it. We are not just talking. We have seen what it takes all over the world and that is what we are going to do.
“That’s why I want all my mothers and fathers to witness what we are saying. When we don’t do it, they should hold us to our words. That is my promise to you. We are going to do it. In a year or two, I can guarantee you that homelessness will be a thing of the past.”
