From News Editor
Women Right Movement under the auspices of Womanifesto has condemned in very strong terms, the assault on the Ondo commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Olubunmi Osadahun by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 1 Akoko North-West ,Olumide Awolumate, popularly known as Cuba.
A statement signed on behalf of Women Groups
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi Co-Convener, Womenifesto said that the assault meted to Osadahun was a microcosm and replica of the varying degrees of violence against women across Nigeria.
According to Akiyode -Abiola, Awolumate was seen in a viral video beating Hon Osadahun and hitting her with a chair in the presence of various witnesses, alledgedly over the sharing of palliatives.
” This situation is a microcosm and replica of the varying degrees of violence against women across Nigeria. The deepest disregard for women in Nigeria was displayed in public without any form of reservation or remorse.
“If a commissioner can be so assaulted, we can only imagine the gruesome forms of violence meted out to women around Mr Awolumate.
“We would like to remind your respectable selves of section 355 of Crimninal Code Act of Nigeria which states that “ any person who unlawfully assaults another and thereby does him harm, is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.
“Furthermore, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015) states clearly that “a person who willfully causes or inflicts physical injury on another person by means of any weapon, substance or object, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding
five years.”
The women group noted that, Ondo is one of the states that have domesticated the VAPP law. “We are hence appalled that hours after the incident, there have been no statements from the Ondo State governor condemning this assault.
“Nigerian women stand in solidarity with Hon Olubunmi Osadahun. We demand that an example be made of Mr Awotumate to all assaulters of women across Nigeria. We demand his immediate removal as APCChairman in Ondo state.
“We commend the Commissioner of Police in Ondo state for ordering the immediate arrest of Mr Awolumate.
“We demand that he must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Nigerian women must be assured that we can be safe in our country. Our girls and children need to know that violence against women is abhorrent and
intolerable.
“We will not accept anything less than adequate punishment for Mr Olumide Awolumate. Womanifesto is Women’s Rights Movement of over 500 activists, practitioners, professionals, and NGOs.
“We are keenly following developments on this issue and failure to prosecute Mr Awolumate will leave us no option than to deploy all legal options to secure justice for Hon Olubunmi Osadahun.”
