By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared that any mother who refuses to report acts of sexual defilement committed by their husbands against their female children will be prosecuted in line with the established laws in the state.
Wife of the state governor, Martha Udom Emmanuel disclosed this at the flagging-off ceremony of 16 days activism against Gender Based Violence in Uyo, the state capital on Thursday.
Government position according to Mrs. Emmanuel followed the rising cases of mothers who cover-up the crime of defilement committed by fathers against their daughters from public for reasons ranging from wanting to “keep their marriages, protecting them against judgement and disgrace” among others.
This development described as sad incident, government has observed amounted to obstructing justice to be served on offenders, would no longer be condoned in the state.
In the same way, government frowned at all acts of gender based violence against women in the state, just as victims are strongly advised to use the free legal apparatus emplaced in the state to seek redress.
The hope, is to end such abuses as they negate the growth, freedom and right of the victims besides the psychological effects on her wellbeing.
“A man who condescend self to defiling own daughter is not worth calling a man. And a woman who conceals defilement or rape incidence committed by her husband on their daughter from disclosure to public, thereby obstructing justice is a fool, and disgrace to humanity.
“By the state government current policy at ending rape in the state, any mother who obstructs justice from being served on offenders or whatsoever reasons, will go in for it.
“Violence or any kind of abuses in marriage is a serious crime that the government everywhere now is frowning at for a better society.
“As a wife, you may say I don’t want to talk because I don’t want to loose my home and leave my children. Yes, nobody is asking you to leave your home but what government is saying is that if your life is threatened, please step aside.
“Remember that if you die, another woman will come in, and will not take good care of your children.
“Time to talk is now. The culture of silence must stop. The scourge of Gender Based Violence is alarming in the society. To address it, the state government has domesticated a law to check these vices in the state, and has also set up a committee called ‘Akwa Ibom State Gender Based Management Committee to help in the fight against the scourge.
“Government is making effort to set up a Special Court to help fast track judgement for victims of gender based violence.
“If you are a woman who don’t treat someone else child good, know that nemesis will catch up with very soon,” Mrs Emmanuel stressed.
Declaring no hidding place for perpetrators of gender based violence in the state, Mrs Emmanuel added, “if you like spend all the money in this world, I can assure you that justice will be done against you without mercy, therefore it is better you stopped now or continue and face the full weight of the law.”
The Governor’s wife who is the chairman of the Gender Based Management Committee in State, which was inaugurated earlier this year, urged women to be productive in order to augment incomes in their homes.
She posited that where they are able to support their husbands by being resourceful, it will help them keep their dignity as a woman as well as curb domestic violence, just as poverty is also seen as one of the causal agents of domestic violence.
The Governor’s wife also appealed to traditional rulers in the state not to treat GBV cases committed in their dormains but to refer them to appropriate place of authorities which is the police, who would in turn execute the offence in Court for justice to be served.
She lauded the security agencies in the state for partnering government to address the issue, and appealed for more collaboration.
On theme of this year’s 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence tagged “Orange the World, End violence against women,” the Governor’s wife said that the 16 days campaign would hold across the 31 local government areas of the state to abolish all forms of violence against women.
