Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has called on State Governors and Lawmakers to prescribe capital punishment for kidnapping.
Reacting to the recent kidnapping of hundreds of students and women in Borno and Kaduna States, Mrs Tinubu described as heart rendering, the act of kidnapping innocent children whom she also described as the future of the Nation.
The First Lady made her views known on Friday, during a meeting with the National Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.
She described the kidnappers as cowards for majorly taking hold of women and children saying the kidnappers are inhuman and should be treated as such.
“They are cowards. Our hearts bleed. I call on the state governments that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishment. Why can’t they take men of their size, why are they touching women and children,” she queried.
Mrs Tinubu, who was visibly angry, stressed that such kidnappings are killing the future of the nation.
“What they are doing is that they are trying to kill our future, we all know that when parents are old, we rely on our children, we see them as our investments that have not gone to a waste especially when they are successful.
“Why will you now take them from their schools? Right now, I think enough is enough. As a former lawmaker, I believe that any one of them captured deserves capital punishment.
“I believe most mothers will support me on this because we carry our children for nine months, and we cannot watch what we love wither away,” the wife of the President added
Mrs Tinubu told the women that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, places a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for women to thrive economically, socially, and politically.
“As women, we constitute a significant portion of our society, and it is vital that our voices are heard and our contributions acknowledged.
“As women leaders, your role is very crucial to our nation’s development. You are the eyes and ears of the Government at the grassroot. I therefore encourage you to set a robust agenda for empowerment, inclusion and welfare of women within our Party and across the nation,” she advised.
The First Lady also highlighted the aim of her pet project; the Renewed Hope Initiative saying:
“On my part, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) was established to focus on championing women’s causes and implementing various programmes and initiatives nationwide with our motto, which states, “towards a better life for families.”
“Accelerating progress in any endeavour requires that women have to be more involved, that is why I see investing in women, not as charity, but a crucial strategy to build the future of our dear nation, Nigeria.
“Empowering women with education, resources and opportunities to unlock their full potential, such as supporting women’s businesses, investing in women’s health, agricultural programmes for women, and creating pathways for women in science and technology will help in dismantling economic and social barriers that women face,” said the First Lady.
Earlier, the group, led by its national Women Leader, Mrs Mary Idele Alile, thanked the First Lady for her impact on the lives of Nigerians through her various interventions on the platform of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The group also requested Mrs Tinubu to help them press for more inclusion in the activities of the current government.
Dominica Nwabufo
