Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, led hundreds of women on a street walk against gender-based violence and sexual abuse in Abeokuta, the state capital, calling for mass support against the scourge.
The rally, which began at the Mitro residence,saw the women walking through the popular Abiola Way through to Panseke, Iyana Mortuary , Ogun state House of Assembly and back to governor’s Office,Oke Mosan. They carried placards with inscriptions like Stop Child Abuse, Walk Against Rape, End Rape, Keep Hope Alive, and Ogun Says No to rape and Domestic Violence.
Her words ‘Gender and Sexual based violence is an issue that children and women have been subject to for far too long. Over the years, they have been subject to abuse, sexual assault, rape and other sorts of violence, including murder.
‘Make no mistake about it, the recent uproar witnessed on social media over the gruesome rape and killings of Tina Ezekwe, Uwavera Omozuwa, Barakat Bello, Jennifer and others, are not isolated incidences that just occurred. Crimes like these have been ongoing and are still happening as we speak. We cannot and should not remain silent. We need
to speak up and take action against such heinous crimes.
Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun canvassed for more viable laws that would save the female folk from further disgrace, adding that such legislations should spell out more punitive measures against perpetrators of rape in the State, while calling for other policies to protect women from potential rapists including the creation of a ‘sex offenders’ register’.
She solicited the supports of developmental partners in the fight against the scurge, stressing that measures should be put in place to protect victims of sexual violence and child abuse amongst others.
‘We need to do more and ensure our survivors are not stigmatised; justice is served; and the emotional and mental wellbeing of survivors is prioritised. I also humbly request that we continue to involve men in national conversation on violence against women. To the men already supporting this cause, thank you for speaking up.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo also called for collective responsibility in checking child abuse and sexual violence in the state.
He pointed out that the 9th Assembly was ready to enact more legislations and amend existing laws. where necessary to provide stiffer measures against offenders in line with modern practices in order to create effective policy for the prevention of violence against the girl child, women and men.
In his remarks, the Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun commended and thanked the First Lady and her team on the initiative and for being a voice to women folk who according to him formed about 50% of the world population.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that cases which bordered on women and girl child violence were expedited to bring the offenders to book assuring that men in the Executive would lend their voices to the campaign and give women and girl child equal opportunities as well as empower them economically
The walks provide a global platform for action by governments, organisations and individuals to mobilise and draw attention to the urgent need to end gender based violence and rape in the state,
