By Musa Isa Ahmed
The wife of the governor of Adamawa State, Her Excellency Hajiya Lami Ahmadu Fintiri has embarked on a road show of over 5 Kilometers walk to the State House of Assembly to register her call for enactment of Law against Sexual, Gender Based Violence (RAPE) and equal opportunity Bill to Women.
The Wife of the Governor through the collaboration with Women Affairs and Social Development, and various Women Groups in the State, such as Jabbiyan Matan Arewa, CAN Women wing, FOMWAN, NCWS, NAWOJ, WAYMA, and NLC Women Wing has pushed forward the call to end rape and violence against women.
Her Excellency has vowed that she will not relent in her effort to ensure that women and the girl child in Adamawa State are given the needed protection both by laws of the state and through social transformation and behavioral change. She calls on all stakeholders including religious groups and civil societies to join in the campaign to end rape and violence against women.
Speaking on behalf of Her Excellency, Honourable Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Lami Patrick Ga’anda, said, we have come together to speak with one voice before this Honourable House on the need to pass into Law the equal opportunity bill that covers the issue of sexual and Gender Based Violence, Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Domestic Violence (DV), Harmful Practice (HP), these are all types of violence that are meted to our women and girls on a daily basis.
It is against this background therefore that we all have gathered today to present to this Honourable House the plight of our women and the need for a speedy passage of the Gender and Equal opportunity Bill so that our women and children can walk freely in our communities without being harassed by the perpetrators.
However the Speaker Adamawa House of Assembly Hon. Aminu Iya Abass confirmed that there are already existing Laws in the State that specify punishment for offenders of sexual based violence.
He emphasized the need for parents to always speak out which according to him is one of the ways to kill the monster called RAPE.
The speaker said Northern Speakers in a meeting held in Kaduna recently, have taken a stand to domesticate the bill which penalizes offenders.
He added that various Speakers in the North-East will also hold a meeting on Gender Based Violence in order to implement punitive measures that specify castration of perpetrators of the crime.
He reiterated the assembly’s commitment towards ensuring that rate of rising rape cases is brought to the barest minimum by doing the needful.
The Wife of the Governor was joined in the walk by, Mrs. Justina Obadiah Nkom, Commissioner Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Justina S. Patrick Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Hauwa Iya Abbas, Wife of the Speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly, Mrs. Rahab Audi, Special Adviser, Women Affairs, Mrs. Sapwavi Pwamwakeno Mackondo, Wife of the Deputy Speaker, Adadmawa State House of Assembly, Mrs. Heidi Edgar Amos, Wife of the Head of Service, Adamawa State, All Members Wives, and all Commissioners Wives.
