Sep 22nd 2013, 23:00, by online@ngrguardiannews.com (From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri)
SCORES of women and other organisations converged at the Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, at the weekend following the outrage over the passage of the controversial Imo State of Nigeria 2012 Law No. 12, Violence Against Persons (Prohibition), asking that the House of Assembly should amend the area in question.
According to the controversial Section 40 (1), (I), "Every woman shall have the right to enjoy reproductive rights, including the right to medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the continued pregnancy endangers the life or the physical, mental, psychological or emotional health of the mother."
However, many Imo indigenes, especially the Catholic community, through the Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, have urged the government and the Assembly to immediately remove the abortion part of the law, insisting that it is open to abuse for willful abortion of pregnancies.
Present at the gathering, which had over 70 non-governmental organisations, were the Country President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, Imo State FIDA Chairperson, Mrs. Ethel Echebina, and Imo State President of the National Council of Women's Society of Nigeria, Mrs. Lois Osueke.
There were also the President, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiya Rakiya M. Ahmed, Coordinator of Network of Reproductive Health Clusters, Mr. Emma Ugorji, and International President of Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA), Mrs. Chinelo N. Iriele, among others.
Briefing journalists afterwards, Shekarau said they were happy when they heard about the passage of the bill, but did not hear when it was signed into law last year by Governor Rochas Okorocha until people began to talk against it this year.
However, she urged the Assembly and the state government to amend the contentious section in the interest of peace in the state. Nevertheless, she said that similar bills are pending in the Senate and House of Representatives.
According to her, "women deserve better. The law also protects both women and men. For us, Imo State Government is a trailblazer. It is shocking to hear that what the government and legislators did is being misconstrued, calling it abortion and actually playing politics with the lives of the people.
"The law should not be repealed, but amended. That is the position of the various groups that have converged here. If you read this law, it has completely redefined rape cases. It protects both men and women. It will help to fight degeneration.
"It is grossly mischievous and wicked for anyone to call it abortion law. Only one section, 40 (I) that people do not agree with the word 'abortion.' It is a clear case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it."
