By Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
Following the high rate of sexual violence in the country, the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson has pledged to lead Nigerian women to the National Assembly to lobby lawmakers on the need to consider capital punishment for rapists.
Mrs Lawson made the pledge while featuring as a guest on a live radio programme on Splash F.M titled ‘Man and the Law” in Abeokuta.
Her words: “I am ready to lead women to the National Assembly to lobby our lawmakers to promulgate laws that will give room for stiff and drastic penalty for rapists. The law against rapists in this country is obsolete, and it is high time the law is reviewed”.
She noted that victims of rape and their families should not keep silent over such incidents, but should cry out for justice, adding that the family should henceforth disabuse their minds from the ‘family affairs’ colouration, which she said encouraged rapists to continue the bad habit.
Lawson, who doubles as the patron of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, commended media for roles being played towards fighting the menace, noting that for the work to be fruitful, the authorities should implement a stiffer penalty against the criminals.
She stressed: “For me the best solution to this menace is sentencing criminals to death. I can assure you if this is put in place, the criminals will desist, and let me also say this, the law on rape is obsolete, and it is high time it is reviewed”.
The Iyalode of Yorubaland, while reacting to police explanation of shortage of funds to investigate and prosecute rape cases, called on Nigerians, corporate bodies and individuals to support the funding of the unit responsible for the case in the Nigerian Police.
The educationist said 80 women/girl child had been raped in Nigeria within a period of six months, lamenting that the new ugly development introduced by the rapists is the killing of the victims after forceful sex with them.
Mrs Lawson advised parents to properly monitor their children, and teach them morals at home.