Womanifesto condemns assault on Ondo Commissioner

A coalition of women groups under the auspices of Womanifesto has condemned the assault on the Ondo commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Olubunmi Osadahun by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 1 Akoko North-West, Olumide Awolumate, popularly known as Cuba.
In a viral video, over the weekend, Awolumate was seen beating Osadahun and hitting her with a chair in the presence of various witnesses over what is gathered as the sharing of palliatives.

In a statement signed by the co-convener Womanisfesto, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi on behalf of over 150 women groups, it reads, “this situation is a microcosm and replica of the varying degrees of violence against women across Nigeria. The deepest disregard for women in Nigeria was displayed in public without any form of reservation or remorse. If a commissioner can be so assaulted, we can only imagine the gruesome forms of violence meted out to women around Mr. Awolumate.
“We would like to remind your respectable selves of section 355 of Criminal Code Act of Nigeria which states that “any person who unlawfully assaults another and thereby does him harm, is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years”. Furthermore, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015) states clearly “a person who willfully causes or inflicts physical injury on another person by means of any weapon, substance or object, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years.”

Akiyode-Afolabi noted that Ondo is one of the states that have domesticated the VAPP law. “We are hence appalled that hours after the incident, there have been no statements from the Ondo State governor condemning this assault. Nigerian women stand in solidarity with Hon Olubunmi Osadahun. We demand that an example be made of Mr. Awotumate to all assaulters of women across Nigeria. We demand his immediate removal as APC Chairman in Ondo state. We commend the Commissioner of Police in Ondo state for ordering the immediate arrest of Mr. Awolumate.
“We demand that he must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Nigerian women must be assured that we can be safe in our country. Our girls and children need to know that violence against women is abhorrent and intolerable. We will not accept anything less than adequate punishment for Mr. Awolumate.”