….Seeks Capital Punishment For Arrested Kidnappers, Bandits, Others
By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Olusola Fatoba has linked the renewed insecurity in the country to failure to implement the criminal law and penal code to the letter.
Fatoba who is representing Ado-Ekiti / Irepodun-Ifelodun federal central constituency 1 said Nigerian system lack in punishment and deterrence to criminal offence.
The federal lawmaker who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital stressed the need to ensure that violent crimes like kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, banditry and the likes are made to attract capital punishment to serve as deterrent to other criminally minded people.
His words, “Our law is so weak and this is why I am making move to rally some of my colleagues to sponsor a bill of amendment to our criminal and penal code. In a situation whereby someone is sentenced to death and he has been there for 15 to 20 years and none of the governors is willing to sign the death warrant and at the end of the day they will be released back into the society.
“We saw what happened at the Kuje Prison in Abuja, where prisoners were released back to the society and a lot of these people are now within the society and are yet to be recovered. So, these are part of the problems, there should be deterrent for offences. Anything that has to do with criminality, there must be punishment.”
He therefore advised governors in all states of the federation to always sign capital punishment for kidnappers, ritual killers, murderers and others fond culpable of violent crimes.
While condemning the murder of two revered traditional rulers and abduction of school pupils and their teachers, he expressed confidence that the perpetrators of the heinous acts will be fished out as ordered by president Bola Tinubu and kidnap victims rescued unhurt.
Fatoba who also called for the establishment of state police to tackle the rising insecurity in the country said, “I have always been one of the advocates of state police.
“At the 9th Assembly, during the constitutional amendment, issue of state police happened to be one of the amendments made to the constitution which has been passed. Unfortunately, most states have not done the concurrent input I believe that is why the whole thing is still stalled.
“If there is another bill that has to do with the state police, I will always be in support of it, because security should be everybody’s business and it should be taken to the grassroots. Everybody should be involved in securing lives and property in their various local governments and states.”
On the what he has been able to do for his constituents, the federal legislator said his intervention since his reelection have been for the progress of the people.
Fatoba disclosed that a bill is currently at the floor of the national assembly, which has to do with the a Federal School of Nursing and Midwifery to be sited in Ado Ekiti.
“I equally sponsored a bill for the establishment of an institute of Rice Research and Production which will be sited in Igbemo Ekiti. When these are established, it will go a long way to reduce crimes among the youths and provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.”
He added that over five job opportunities have been secured for some of his constituents in different federal government agencies.
“We have also done a lot in the area of education, provision of water (solar powered boreholes), solar light and agricultural inputs. Also, a road construction is ongoing at the olorunsogo area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.
“These and many more are parts of what I have been able to achieve in the last six or seven months.”
Speaking on the hash effects of the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023 on the people, he said, “For the country to witness greater development, there are some things now that are needed to be sacrificed as they say no pain no gain.
“So, these are part of the pains that Nigerians needed to endure for the benefit of the country and that of the future of our children and the generation yet unborn.