By Abire Sunday Olugbenga
No society is better without reforms and constant regeneration of virtues. This is because the law wanes with time and all hands must be on deck to ensure that every law is in consonance with the reality of the time we find ourselves. This is the hallmark of development. As man develops in size, so does the body of laws develops.
Thankfully, Hon Ade Adeogun, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence has pushed forward a Bill to prohibit oppressive tendencies and the discrimination against widows in Nigeria.
The Bill, which scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday, February 17, will significantly give widows enormous freedom over some cultural practices inimical to their wellbeing in Nigeria.
I grew up to understand the pains of an average widow in my neighbourhood. She’s a woman beleaguered with unfathomnable cultural dilemma. She’s either seen as a witch or someone who could be trashed by family members, who feel pained by the loss of her own husband.
I have had a true life experience of a woman, who was forced to drink from the water that was used to give her husband a final bath, because everyone thought she killed her husband mysteriously. This time, not with a knife or club, but just a fetish inclination that she must have been a witch.
I have seen widows go through unimaginable pains. It’s common for a woman to suffer loss of properties, as family members overtake all after the death of her husband. I have seen them homeless, unkempt and dejected. In many cases, they are married off as cheap commodities and the inhuman treatment continues.
Have you seen a widower before? In just three days, friends and relatives rally round him with bottles of beer and good looking women. He’s shielded from brooding over the death of his wife. And the society validates his actions, no matter how insensate. In fact, he’s praised for letting go quickly. That’s considered as strength in some popular culture. But the woman is considered promiscuous for doing same even after a year.
Our society cannot be better if these grave injustices are not redressed by enacting efficacious laws that will govern the conduct of all. We can only prayerfully appreciate Hon Ade Adeogun, who is changing the narrative via responsible and responsive legislation. If passed, the 23rd May of every year will be a beautiful holiday for all widows in Nigeria. It will be a day to appreciate them for their steadfastness, dedication and commitment to raising their children, all alone.
While I watched him stand to speak on behalf of all widows in Nigeria, the Akoko spirit in me rose. Isn’t this the same House of Representatives that our people have been going since 1999 without any Bill? Our federal constituency, for the first time, is mentioned for positive legislative engagements in Bills, motions and contributions. We never thought we could have a representative who would have the highest number of Bills to his credit among his colleagues from Ondo State. We got it right this time and we must sustain the tempo.
May this federal constituency never retrogress. The UNDERSTANDING ADEOGUN’S BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS (PROHIBITION) ACT 2015 TO PROHIBIT THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WIDOWS…
No society is better without reforms and constant regeneration of virtues. This is because the law wanes with time and all hands must be on deck to ensure that every law is in consonance with the reality of the time we find ourselves. This is the hallmark of development. As man develops in size, so does the body of laws develops.
Thankfully, Hon Ade Adeogun, the Deputy chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence has pushed forward a Bill to prohibit oppressive tendencies and the discrimination against widows in Nigeria. The Bill which scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday will significantly give widows enormous freedom over some cultural practices inimical to their wellbeing in Nigeria.
I grew up to understand the pains of an average widow in my neighbourhood. She’s a woman beleaguered with unfathomable cultural dilemma. She’s either seen as a witch or someone who could be trashed by family members who feel pained by the loss of her own husband. I have had a true life experience of a woman who was forced to drink from the water that was used to give her husband a final bath because everyone thought she killed her husband mysteriously. This time, not with a knife or club but just a fetish inclination that she must have been a witch.
I have seen widows go through unimaginable pains. It’s common for a woman to suffer loss of properties as family members overtake all after the death of her husband. I have seen them homeless, unkempt and dejected. In many cases, they are married off as cheap commodities and the inhuman treatment continues.
Have you seen a widower before? In just three days, friends and relatives rally round him with bottles of beer and good looking women. He’s shielded from brooding over the death of his wife. And the society validates his actions, no matter how insensate. In fact, he’s praised for letting go quickly. That’s considered as strength in some popular culture. But the woman is considered promiscuous for doing same even after a year.
Our society cannot be better if these grave injustices are not redressed by enacting efficacious laws that will govern the conduct of all. We can only prayerfully appreciate Hon Ade Adeogun who is changing the narrative via responsible and responsive legislation. If passed, the 23rd May of every year will be a beautiful holiday for all widows in Nigeria. It will be a day to appreciate them for their steadfastness, dedication and commitment to raising their children all alone.
While I watched him stand to speak on behalf of all widows in Nigeria, the Akoko spirit in me rose. Isn’t this the same House of Representatives that our people have been going since 1999 without any Bill? Our Federal Constituency, for the first time, is mentioned for positive legislative engagements in Bills, motions and contributions. We never thought we could have a representative who would have the highest number of Bills to his credit among his colleagues from Ondo state. We got it right this time and we must sustain the tempo.
May this federal constituency never retrogress. The Akoko Wing in the 9th National Assembly is blessed truly.
•Abire, Special Adviser in Media nad Publicity to Hon Adeogun, writes from Oba-Akoko, in Akoko South East/West federal constituency of Ondo State.
