Ambode Leads Walk Against Domestic Violence…Backs 25-Year Jail Term For Rapists

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has backed the 25 years jail term prescribed for rapists and perpetrators of all forms of domestic violence, saying that the time has come to take more aggressive steps to put a stop to the menace.

Ambode, who spoke when he led a symbolic walk against domestic and sexual violence in Alausa, Ikeja, with top government functionaries, including the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olufunmilayo Opeyemi Oke, wife of the Governor, Bolanle Ambode, and others, said it was time to walk the talk and ensure that all hands are on deck towards safeguarding the rights of every citizen and the most vulnerable in the society.

He said: “Rape should not be met with light sentencing; the minimum sentence of 25 years is highly recommended. We need new laws, which will respond adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era. Domestic violence is a crime, and should be treated as such. The Protection Against Domestic Violence Law 2007 should therefore be amended accordingly. A lot of progress has been made in the steps taken to protect the rights of women and the girl-child and in the war against the oppression of the female gender.

“However, there is still so much to be done. We need to ask ourselves the hard question: for this cause we honour today, how can we truly ensure we are walking the talk? What we are tackling today is an almost innate culture, which relegates women to the background and forces them to suffer in silence. In Lagos, we are waging a war against this culture and we will do everything within our power to transform ours to a culture of equality, respect and dignity for all. It is a journey of radical transformation, and our government is wholly committed to seeing it through.”

Photo Credit: Getty

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