FIDA ONDO PRESS RELEASE ON ASSAULT AND INJURY ON THE PERSON OF HON. COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS, ONDO STATE
Assault and Injury on the person of Hon. Dr. Mrs Juliannah Osadahun and all forms of
political violence as an insidious form of Gender-Based Violence MUST be
STOPPED!!!
FIDA Nigeria Ondo State Branch strongly condemns in its entirety and in the strongest
terms possible, all forms of gender-based violence against women, particularly those
against women in politics.
In this vein, FIDA Nigeria Ondo State Branch totally condemns the alleged assault and
inflicting of bodily injuries on Dr. Mrs. Juliana Osadahun, the Honourable Commissioner
for Women Affairs and Social Development in Ondo State by her assailant identified as
one Olumide Awolumate, the Ward Chairman of Arigidi Iye Ward 1 of Akoko North-West
Local Government Area of Ondo State as reported by the victim and on various news
platforms.
We vehemently denounce these acts as vile and an ugly menace that must be eradicated
from our society at large. Women have equal rights as men and they must not be
intimidated or humiliated when they choose to serve in political offices. What is more,
the victim was on official duty and in her home community during this assault.
It is alarming that political violence on women particularly by some of their male
counterparts has assumed a perilously critical dimension, constituting a horrifying kind of violence targeted at violating the fundamental human rights of a person. In this case, it is difficult to imagine the level of infringement on the rights of women in Arigidi-Akoko and environs if one of them who is a representative of government is assaulted while on official duty at her own home community.
These acts have been criminalized by the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP)
Law 2021 of Ondo State. Being that the state and all persons of goodwill are under a duty
to give effect to these statutory provisions against all forms of violence, including
desisting from aiding and/or abetting of same in any manner or to any degree, FIDA
Nigeria Ondo State Branch hereby unequivocally condemn the alleged assault and injury on the person of Dr. Mrs Julianna Osadahun.
We thank the Ondo State Command of Nigeria Police Force for swinging into action immediately. We implore you to fully investigate this crime and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. We urge community leaders at Arigidi-Akoko and members to come forward with any information that may assist in the investigation.
FIDA Nigeria Ondo State Branch is keenly observing, and shall not hesitate to proceed
against all persons or individuals who support such acts of violence either by their
utterances or actions/ inactions, or who may try to suppress the reportage of these sort
of violence meted out to persons. We remain steadfast on our mandate to protect,
promote, and preserve the rights of vulnerable women and children using the
instrumentality of law, strongly supporting and standing behind all survivors of
violence of any kind, including those of political forms and all forms of gender-based
violence, and encouraging them to speak up on these crimes as their voices are meant
to be heard, and justice delivered for the crimes perpetrated against them.
We call on the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON,
State Chairman of the APC, Engr Ade Adetimehin and all APC leaders in the State, OSAAGBV and all Civil Society Organisations to step up their game in order to eradicate all
forms of GBV from Ondo State and in particular, we hereby call for the removal of
Olumide Awolumate from the position of ward Chairman as he is very much unfit to
hold a leadership position.
Finally, we want to express our support and solidarity with the victim, our own woman,
at this time. Our hearts go out to her and we stand ready to offer any support we can.
Let us all work together to make our communities and Ondo State a safe and supportive place for all women.
Signed
Catherine Ogunjebi, (Mrs.)
Chairperson
Bolanle Olafunmiloye
Publicity Secretary
FIDA Nigeria Ondo State branch
#FIDAnigeria
#saynotoallformsofviolence
#saynotopoliticalviolence
#prosecuteolumideawolumate
#EndGBVNow
