The governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has said described violence against women as a criminal act that must not be condoned.
He said this after an advocacy walk against gender based violence (GBV) organised by Women Arise in collaboration with the state government.
The walk which started at the Government House through Omida and Oke -Ilewo was terminated at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Wednesday.
Amosun noted that anyone found violating women would henceforth be prosecuted and treated as criminals.
He added that the womenfolk played a great role in nation building and charged the state House of Assembly to come with a bill on violence against women.
Amosun said: “Anyone that violates the rights of women is a criminal, he must be prosecuted. We will not tolerate violence against women. We say capital no to rape, women battery, assault, child abuse and kidnapping of women. Everyday we are witnessing domestic violence against women; women being beaten to a stage of coma. This is not right.
“Women are our wives, they are our daughters and mothers, we must take care of them. When the home is okay, the local government will be okay, when this is okay, state will be okay and the nation will be okay. Thank God our lawmakers are here, they will expedite a bill on violence against women. As a government, we will support initiative like this, when there is no violence of any form in the state investors will come.”
The convener, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the walk was to create awareness on violence against women such as rape, battery, domestic violence, assault and other forms of abuses.
She said, “Men have become weapons of human destruction. We are sounding the warning to wife beaters that impunity will not longer be tolerated. Marriage should be seen by couples as being complementary and not competition. Women must speak out or they die.”
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