6th July, 2012
By Eromosele Ebhomele
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has raised an alarm over the increase in domestic violence, rape, child molestation and abuse in the state.
She warned that the government would not fold its hands in the face of these criminal activities.
Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire, who spoke at a poverty alleviation programme organised by Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet, a member of the state House of Assembly, for her constituents, expressed dismay over what she described as a worrying trend in the state.
She disclosed that each day, she receives over 10 complaints concerning rape in the state and also gets, at least, 400 calls on the helplines from people who have been molested by their husbands.
According to her, a major reason men beat their wives is because of frustration, poverty and anger, adding that she no longer believes in women being full time housewives.
“It is no longer acceptable in Lagos and even Nigeria,” she said.
The deputy governor said that there were laws against such criminality and warned that government would henceforth punish perpetrators of such crimes.
“I want to sound a warning to everybody including religious leaders that the rate of domestic violence and abuse of our children is alarming.
“We can resolve crises in our homes without resorting to beating, maiming of both men and women.
“If there is an issue to resolve, let it be in our privacy, away from the children. If you beat yourselves in the presence of your children, what message are you be sending to them?” she asked.
She said most challenges in the family were learnt by either the man or the wife when he or she was a child.
“There’s no way we cannot have misunderstandings in our homes, but for the benefit of our children, let us be tolerant and invite God into our homes and pray as much as possible,” she said, adding that some kids on the street claimed they ran out of homes because of fighting between their parents.
She noted that such kids later become nuisance to the society by living under the bridges.
Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire, who was probably reacting to a recent story carried by P.M. NEWS concerning a woman who poured hot water on her step-son, said: “the fact that you are not the mother of a child does not mean you cannot take care of him.
“Your step-child is supposed to be your child because if you don’t take care of him or empower him, he would end up being a threat to your own children.
“You must therefore adopt your step-child as your own if you really want to protect your own children in the family and avoid being killed when that step-son becomes a criminal who does not have anything to loose by killing you.”
She warned women in polygamous homes not to divert the attention of their husbands from taking care of the children they met in the homes since they knew before deciding to marry the men.
She advised polygamists to love their wives equally.
“Women want to own their men and do not want to share them. In a day, I call my husband three times to know where he is and when someone asked me recently why I do this despite my huge schedule, I informed him that my husband is my first affair.
“Me and my husband are like a brother and a sister.