Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday joined others to condemn Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing the practice as dehumanising and of no benefit in any way to the victims.

Obasanjo spoke during a summit organised by the Circumcision Descendants Association of Nigeria (CDAN) in Ibadan, where the members kicked against genital mutilation and cutting of sensitive organs in females.

The ex-president, who was represented by Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, also described the act as disrespect to women.

In an address read on his behalf, Obasanjo described FGM as a procedure that intentionally causes injury to female genital organs, saying that because of its negative impact on victims and the worldwide condemnation of the practice, circumcision practitioners in Nigeria must support efforts by the Federal Government to abolish the act.

He said: “FGM is a heinous crime against womanhood, our communities and traumatic to the victims. It can cause excessive bleeding, swelling of the genital tissue, problems in urinating, severe infection that can lead to shock and complications in childbirth.

“The practice has been declared by the World Health Organisation as violation of human rights, but it is still prevalent in Africa, Middle East and Asia where over 200 million girls and women have been affected.”

Grand Patron and Chairman, Board of Trustees, CDAN, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun, who coordinated the summit, said that circumcision is statutory for people in the South West, but the threat to the health of women as a result of the practice made it compulsory for the association to support government’s effort to eradicate it.

He said: “Our objective has been to educate the public against the practice in Nigeria and Africa. It is also our aim to preach against the crude and unsterilized equipment used by local nurses in some communities for female circumcision.”