First Lady Wants Death Penalty for Convicted Kidnappers

Angered by the spiraling cases of kidnappings and forceful abductions of Nigerians in the country, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, rose, Friday, and canvassed the death penalty for whoever is convicted of the crime.

Her anger was a direct response to Thursday’s abduction of 287 students of Government Secondary School, GSS, and its Primary School arm, in Kuriga, Chukun District of Kaduna State by armed bandits.

Describing the sad event as heart-rending and a sad commentary that leaves a sour taste in the mouth, Senator Tinubu urged state governors and lawmakers at all levels to work towards a law prescribing capital punishment for kidnapping.

The First Lady canvassed the strong position on Friday during a meeting she held with the National Women Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.

She described the kidnappers as cowards who hold innocent and hapless women and children captive, saying the criminals did not deserve mercy, and should be given the same inhumane treatment they meted to their hapless victims.

“They are cowards,” said an angry Mrs. Tinubu. “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?

“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 to wither away.”

Away from kidnapping, Senator Oluremi 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,” she continued, “we constitute a significant portion of 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 grassroots.  I, therefore, encourage you to set a robust agenda for empowerment, inclusion and welfare of women within our party and across the nation.”

The First Lady also celebrated the International Women’s Day with the women and, indeed, all Nigerian women, lauding them for their courage, resilience and doggedness.

“On my part,” she said, “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.

“Therefore, my charge to you all is to be each other’s keeper. Let us all come together, bond and love one another. Each of you should commit to pull a sister up, one at a time. You will all be amazed at what we can achieve collectively.”

Earlier, the group, led by its National Women Leader, Dr Mary Idele Alile, her Deputy, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, and members of the Executive, thanked the First Lady for her impact on the lives of Nigerians through her various interventions on the platform of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI.

The group, led by the APC National woman leader, also requested Senator Oluremi Tinubu to help them by pressing for more inclusion in the activities of government.

“We highlight the remarkable achievement of the RHI spearheaded by our First Lady across the country,” said the National Women Leader. “The RHI has brought about transformative change through various programmes which include the Elderly Support Scheme, National Scholarship Programme, Women in Agric Support Programme and many others.”

The group was made up of the APC National woman leader, her deputy, the six zonal leaders, and the women leaders of the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.