The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere has commended the wife of the Governor of Imo State, Her Excellency, Ugo Nneoma Okorocha for taking a bold step towards addressing the issue of female genital mutilation in Imo State.
Imo Deputy Governor’s commendation was contained in a press release signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Uche Onwuchekwa.
Prince Madumere described female genital mutilation as an obnoxious tradition, which must be jettisoned by all since it has no known atom of positive value on women but rather has been a source of eternal trauma to them.
He also expressed worries over the effects of the practices of genital mutilation, attributing to the rampant cases of complication during child birth, anemia, formation of cysts and abscesses, keloid, scar formations, damage to the urethra, which causes urinary diseases, sexual dysfunction, and increased risk of HIV among other avoidable conditions in women.
According to the release, the number two citizen of Imo State while calling on those who hide under the guise of tradition and culture to perpetrate the condemnable act to retrace their steps, advised that any culture that demeans the people is not worth adopting but should be abolished. He averred that such primitive practices like ostracizing of women who bore twins, harsh treatment of widows and the ‘ So called’ abnormal teething of new born babies are all in the past.
He enjoined all well-meaning Nigerians especially community leaders, Traditional Rulers among others to join hands with the wife of the Governor to tackle the menace of female genital mutilation practices, which he described as a hydra-headed monster.
He described Mrs. Okorocha as a passionate mother and leader who does not just care for the well-being of the women and children but has taken pragmatic steps to address some of their prevailing problems. He mentioned SNARP Programme as one of the potent means through which she has empowered and built about two hundred well-furnished two bedroom apartments for the indigent widows across twenty-seven local government areas of Imo State.
Prince Madumere who has no doubt that the wife of the Governor working in concert with the Traditional Rulers and the leaders at the grassroots with re-orientation strategy will hugely succeed in her campaign. He therefore called for the understanding of the legislature for a legislation abolishing the practice, the act he said will help stamp out the inimical tradition in its entirety.