Following critical comments on the proposal that 50 million Nigerian youths be recruited into the military by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his media office has clarified that the figure was an accidental verbal mistake as the former Lagos State Governor meant 50,000 and not 50 million.
It would be recalled that Tinubu, during a colloquium to mark his 69th birthday in the ancient city of Kano, had during his speech advocated the recruitment of youths into the military as a way of fighting unemployment and insecurity in the country.
Correcting what it called ‘ accidental verbal mistake’, Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, in a statement Tuesday evening, said Asiwaju seeks the expansion of security personnel by 50,000 for the armed forces and not the 50 million that was mentioned in error.
“It was an accidental verbal mistake of which we all commit from time to time especially when reciting a series of large numerical figures. He did not mean 50 million, which is almost a quarter of our total population.
“The crucial matter is that Asiwaju rightly observed that such strong recruitment would serve the twin-purpose of helping to tackle unemployment while at the same time enhancing the security of every Nigerian.
‘Please forgive any confusion due to this innocent error. The most vital thing is that he set forth a wise and timely approach that would help us face two of today’s stiffest challenges. It is in the spirit that we hope you view and assess his proposal for it seeks to provide a way for more youths to participate in building a greater, safer and more prosperous country”, the statement said.
