Candidates contesting the governorship election in Osun State have condemned the act of child abuse and promised to address it if elected to rule the state.
In a governorship debate organised by Channels Television recently, candidates from the various parties have bared their minds on how to deal with the trend of child abuse in the state.
Alhaji Moshood Adeoti contesting on the platform of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) however promised to re-orientate parents on best way to handle their wards.
Speaking at the governorship debate, Adeoti said, “By the time I become the governor of Osun State, I will have to re-orientate the parents on how well to handle their wards.”
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He however plans to organise enlightenment campaign via symposium to campaign among the parents.
“I will organise symposium to educate the parents. Most of the child abuse cases are fallout of broken homes and we shall talk more about this,” he said.
In his own response, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola promised to punish crimes against children when elected into office.
“I will ensure anyone who commits the crime of child abuse would be brought to book,” he said, noting that there is a ministry of Social Welfare in the state handling such cases.
“There is a Social Welfare department that handles that in the state and they would continue to do their work. Most time child abuse cases are not reported but when reported, such will be punished,” he promised.
Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore in his own response reminded the audience that child abuse is a crime in Nigeria and punishable under the law.
“Child abuse in our law is very illegal. When I am voted into office, I will organise a campaign against the vice. I will make guidelines to deal with it. There are laws against these things and as a state governor, I will make sure the laws are promoted,” Omisore said.
A total of five candidates were invited for the debate but candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke was absent.
