Leader of Nigeria’s 10th House of Representatives and member representing Owan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rt Hon Prof Julius Ihonvbere has assured the Association of Parents Instructors of Military Schools in Nigeria of his unwavering support in ensuring that the Bill before the House of Representatives seeking to ensure that graduands of Military Schools in Nigeria gets a substantial allocation into the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), gets a fair hearing and speedy passage by the House of Representatives.
Ihonvbere gave the assurance this morning while playing host to top officials of the Association from all the Military Schools in the country led by its President, Arc Ikenna Madueke. The House Leader who assured them on behalf of Speaker Abass Tajudeen and other members of the House of Representatives of the readiness of the House to see to the speedy passage of the Bill, and noted that he sees nothing wrong even if it is advocated that graduating students of our Military Schools should constitute intakes into the NDA, because they are Nigerians from different parts of the country who have garnered adequate training and deep knowledge of the Military establishment and in addition have had the spirit of patriotism embedded in them from their tender ages.
He opined that the Reps would ensure that the Bill is given the needed support to come to life early enough as an adequate response to the insecurity challenges ravaging different parts of the country. Earlier in an address, the National President of the Association, Arc Ikenna Madueke, said the body was moved by the passion shown by the House Leader in his contributions at plenary when the Bill came up for mentioning a few days ago, adding that Ihonvbere’s passion and positive disposition towards the Bill is a clear manifestation of the fact that there are still Nigerians whose patriotism remains unwavered.
“We are here this morning for nothing else whatsoever, but just to appreciate and have a handshake with you over your support to the Bill which seeks to change the stagnant statute of our Military Schools for the past seventy (70) years. ”
Sir, we watched on television stations with joy in our hearts your very sound and positive contributions towards the Bill. Hence, we deem it necessary to pay you this visit. “We have been following your activities carefully at the National Assembly, where you have proven overtime to be a Nigerian who truly cares for the peace and prosperity of the country. “We recall the Nasarawa fire incidence a few years ago where you were at the forefront of advocacy calling for adequate support for victims from the Federal Government.” Speaking on the imperativeness of the Bill, Arc Madueke noted that the federal government invests so much on pupils of these schools whom on admission as early as 12 years of age, are exposed to arms handling and other rudiments of Military training, in addition to acquiring the basic academic knowledge.
He asserted that the body decided to sponsor the Bill because it discovered that the country is not adequately harnessing the opportunities provided these military institutions and pleaded with the House Leader to ensure that the Bill is given a positive consideration in order to guarantee that graduands from these Military Schools are given wider opportunities to pursue their military career, rather than being tempted to fall into wrong hands due to the frustration of not being allowed to pursue their passion and dream, a situation he noted would be too costly for the country to bear. He assured Ihonvbere of the continuous prayers of all parents of pupils of the military schools in the country.
He concluded his speech by drawing inspiration from the quote that because “change that happens overtime are associated with great people,^ they want this change to the 70 year old statute of the Military Schools in Nigeria to happen in Ihonvbere’s time.
Other members of the Association that accompanied the President include Mr Oshiomhole Richard Inumah of the Airforce Military School (AFMS), Mrs Temitope Elizabeth Adedayo of the Naval Military School (NMS), Nnong Ikot, Akwa-Ibom State, Mr Kayode Noah of Nigeria Military School (NMS), Zaria and Mr Solomon Igue Fyncountry of the Airforce Girls Military School (AFGMS), Jos.
Joshua Ojesemen Iraoya, Senior Aide on Media/Public Affairs to the Leader, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Prof Julius Ihonvbere, OON, DSSRS.
