Grand Patron, Circumcision Descendants of Nigeria, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, on Wednesday, disclosed that circumcisers have arrived at a resolution to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria.
Ogundokun made this disclosure on the sidelines of an event to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance For FGM organized by the office of the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, held at the Oyo Government House, Ibadan.
According to Ogundokun, the circumcisers reached a resolution to stop the practice of circumcision at a conference of the circumcision descendants held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
Ogundokun explained that the resolve was informed by research and in heeding to calls around the world to embrace civilization in practices, and its observation that there was little or nothing gained in cutting parts or whole of the female genitalia.
He avowed that there was already a tremendous reduction in the circumcision of females, tasking the government and its agencies to update its statistics on FGM practice in the country.
In ending FGM, Ogundokun said the real circumcision descendants had set up a monitoring team to clamp down on those still circumcising females.
He said those still practising circumcision were doing it on their own accord and were evading being arrested.
The Oloola grand patron, however, said it was also expedient for the government to empower circumcisers to take up other occupations.
Ogundokun said: “It is seen as a bad practice, which has not been harmful, but it is necessary to bring an end to FGM.
“Not all of us will be happy to see our daughter cut in her private part. The world wants a stop. Is it not civilized to follow the world in doing something?
“Some people have done their research. We are civilized people. We must tread slowly to ensure that what the world is saying is the best thing for all of us.
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“If you don’t cut, what harm does it do to the lady or to the baby? Women can do without; it is only the men that really need to be circumcised to keep certain things happening to him.
“It is best and we have decided at our own conference, which we had at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, that it must stop and you will see the tremendous reduction in circumcision.
“Those who are doing it are doing it on their own; they are running away from us because we have a team going around to get rid of them and get them prosecuted.
“We don’t want circumcision; we have said it and we have to work together with the world.
“What is the gain if we don’t cut it? What is the gain if we cut it?
“We have stopped and I advise every omo Oloola to stop cutting women’s genitalia so that they can enjoy it the way they want to enjoy it. Enough is enough.
“If the government is doing its research, it will see that FGM has reduced tremendously. The government should work with the Oloolas.
“However, you are taking the source of income of somebody who has been used to it all the life, so the government has to also help people set up themselves and practice their various vocations.”
In her remarks at the event, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde decried the grave consequences of FGM to include painful sexual acts, childbirth issues, infection, wounds among others.
Represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mrs Faosat Sanni, wife of the Oyo governor charged all and sundry to invest resources in sensitization and in creating more awareness to dissuade people from FGM.
She also charged people to embrace survivors for them to overcome the trauma that comes with FGM.
Guest speakers at the event: Director, Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Oladosun Ojengbede and Deputy Director, Child Welfare, Oyo Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Aishat Abdusalam tasked women and men alike to all be involved in sensitizing and speaking against FGM practice.
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