‘Terrorists, Criminals Shouldn’t Be Better Equipped Than Our Military’- Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called for increased funding and better equipping of Nigeria’s Armed Forces. The former Vice President made the call while stating that it is unacceptable that criminals and terrorists are better equipped than the country’s Armed Forces.

These were contained in a statement he personally signed on Thursday against the backdrop of the killing of military men in the North East by Boko Haram Terrorists and the North Central by criminal elements.

The statement reads inter alia: “With the rising spate of terror activities in the Middle Belt and the North East, I urgently call for increased funding for our military so that they are equipped and their morale boosted enough to contain and then defeat insecurity in Nigeria.

“It is unacceptable that terrorists and criminals are frequently better equipped than members of our armed forces. It is the duty of the political elite to put aside any political differences and take a United stand to put an end to this.

“The increasing deaths of our servicemen at the hand of terrorists and criminals, especially in the Northeast and Middle Belt, is a clear sign that our troops need to be better funded and better equipped. It is true that funds are scarce, but this is an emergency and if we do not take care of an emergency, it becomes a crisis which can lead to a total breakdown of law and order – anarchy in essence.

“I have been traveling all over Nigeria and I meet with both Muslim and Christian clerics who tell me that in the Northeast and Middle Belt, they now officiate over more funerals than they do marriages and child dedications. This is heartbreaking and we must do something immediately to change the situation.

“Apart from funding, I advise the Federal Government to review its policy of releasing so called ‘repentant’ terrorists. To think that the government can de-radicalise these individuals in so short a time is wishful thinking. Many people, myself included, think that the upsurge in terror activities coming after the release of such detainees, is not coincidental.

“Finally, I urge the National Assembly to suo moto, take action to appropriate funds for our military on a fast-track basis. These are desperate times for Nigeria and desperate times call for dedication to duty of all concerned.

“I am tired of issuing condolences for unnecessary deaths. I prefer to make a difference and prevent unnecessary deaths amongst the gallant men and women of our armed forces and the civilian population they took an oath to protect.”

WHY PARENTS TAKE THEIR WARDS TO TENNYTAN NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOL IN ABEOKUTA

According to the lateSouth Africa  President Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. It is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace.”

The above quote must have prompted Chief (Mrs.) Funmi Lawson to establish TennyTan Group of Schools some years back.

Apart from detailed professionalism which is their watch word, what stands TennyTan School out is their clear vision of providing a clean, conducive learning environment for the students. Their  core value is to instil morals, discipline, the fear of God, acedemic exellence, honesty, humility, integrity and respect for one another.

At TennyTan School,they are exceptionally committed to providing fair and equal educationalopportunities to all children regardless of tribe, religion, nationality,gender, disability or social status. TennyTan Schools, comprise of TennyTanKindergarten (Daycare setting) for babies whose parents are at work, providing an environment where they play with educational toys as part of building the skills in them), Nursery and Primary School and TennyTan Model College, started in Ibadan in June 1st, 2014, at College Crescent area of Ibadan as KindercareInternational Kiddies Arena. But the name was changed to TennyTan, an acronym coined from the founder’s sons’ names, Teniola and Enitan, after the establishment of Abeokuta, Ogun State wing in 2016.

The school is located at 2, Olusoji Idowu Avenue, Ile-ise Awo, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Another major selling point of the school, according to Mrs. Lawson, comes in the area of first-class facilities being put in place not only for the mental development of their students but also for intellectual, moral and physical development. When asked how she managed to establish schools without pre-knowledge of the education sector? She explained that she has all the tools to reach her target market with her educational background. According to her, she only employ professionals to teach the pupils and also get 100% support from her brother who is an Educationist.

“It is our aim to provide a balanced approach to learning while giving you the peace of mind that your child will have fun as he/she develops physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually. Our students will get the tools to become confident and self reliant. We have excellent, qualified and passionate team of teachers that would give every child endless opportunity to grow and learn in a caring atmosphere. We teach life skills that are beyond writing, maths and reading. Aspart of life skills teaching, playing with educational toys helps to develop motor skills and children learn the act of sharing as they pass the toys among themselves. Children learn various songs while doing role plays of housecleaning and self-hygiene. Our mission is to provide excellent care to our children and ensure their health and safety while in our care. To provide fun and loving atmosphere where they can learn and grow.

Our facilities include school buses for easy transportation of our students to and from school with well-trained drivers with valid driver’s license and they are subjected to further training for the purpose of carefully handling the children and for careful and mindful driving. There is also a Computer Section to provide Information and communication technology training for the children. The school advocates towards the productive and efficient use of computer as well as cutting-edge technologies for the attainment of the vision of the school. We also have Sick Bay with the purpose of providing first aid treatment to school related injuries. Our Library is well equipped  too.

All these coupled with many other things are the reasons people respect us in the sector,” Mrs. Lawson stated.

Mrs. Funmi Lawson was born into the family of Pa Folarin and Mosunmola Akinremi  (both deceased) some 56 years ago. She has a double major degree in Advertising Technology and Web Design from the Central Ohio Technical College Columbus, Ohio in the USA. She is also Currently studying for another degree in Advertising in Franklin University, Ohio.

Phone: 09036411754, 08069204351, 08090783693.

-City People Magazine