Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has pledged his commitment to return Nigerian armed forces to its place of pride among the comitty of nations if he is elected in the february election even as he promised to make a new deal for the nation’s women and youths..
“I wish to assure you of my un-alloyed commitment to returning the Armed Forces to its place of pride among committee of nations.”
A statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential campaign organisation, Garba Shehu to mark the armed forces remembrance day today, said that General Buhari sympathised and condole with the families of members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in various military operations to keep Nigeria secured.
He equally sympathised with the men and officers that are currently battling with insurgents in North Eastern part of Nigeria.
“An APC government will provide the necessary military equipment and personnel to prosecute the battle effectively and efficiently as soon as we are voted into power in the forthcoming elections,” Buhari assured and added that APC is fully aware of the sufferings of the military retirees whose pension arrears and gratuity have remained a serious problem.
The APC flag bearer made clear that his government, is he is voted into power, would correct the Problems even as he advised the armed forces to remain apolitical and focus on the ethos of discipline, which is the hallmark of their profession.
“I am aware of the neglect of the military over the years and assure you that everything will be done within available resources to train and equip the military to the level comparable with other developed militaries of the world in the shortest possible time.”
He acknowledged that the Nigerian Military had accomplished a lot of feats in building and ensuring global security and peace in conjunction with the armed forces of other great nations of the world as was experienced in the Congo, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Lebanon and other areas. “Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to join us in the APC in our quest to making Nigeria a better place for all.”
General Buhari promised that he would initiate policies and programmes that will impact positively on the lives of youths and women when he is voted into office in the February 14 presidential election.
He said that the APC manifesto contains several innovations and legislative proposals that will promote the manpower development and social participation of women and youths in the country.
“Drawing extensively from the information contained in the APC’s manifesto, a federal government under the leadership of Buhari promises to offer women and youths in Nigeria a new deal.
“We are firmly committed to the value that women are the backbone of the Nigerian society, especially in our rural communities. Therefore, issues that matter to the average Nigerian woman cut across the spectrum of policy areas, such as agriculture – where they predominate as farmers and farm labour – to health and education, where their concern for their children are paramount.
“Our policy position for woman takes into cognisance the fact that in spite of several rights outlined in the 1999 Constitution, many women do not enjoy the same freedom as men, particularly in the fields of education, economic empowerment and political participation.
“No society can progress where half of its population suffers systemic discrimination. An APC government will seek to end all forms of gender discrimination in both public and private sectors, in education, employment and housing and also protect equal property and inheritance rights.”
Buhari said that the core policy objectives of the APC for women and youths to include, “improving anti-discriminatory legislation and instituting merit-based affirmative action in employment; injecting gender as a component of federal character and appointing a Minister for Women and Gender in the Office of the President; enforcing legal protection for the fundamental rights of the girl-child in all areas of religious, social and economic life.”
Other policy concerns according to him include, “providing women with greater legal protection from domestic violence and sexual harassment; empowering the Police with specialist training on handling of domestic violence issues; strengthening coordination between women and youths’ agencies at state and federal levels cutting across ethnic and religious barriers.”
Other policy initiatives which Buhari promised to implement include “improving and strengthening support for women and youths’ participation in all sectors of the economy through training and skill acquisition; develop innovative ways of encouraging women and youths participation; encouraging local governments to combat female adult illiteracy with education programmes in local languages and provide incentives for the private sector to support these initiatives.” [myad]
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