Peter Dibia (08137847696).
More often than not, a lot of people suffer from home violence, child abuse, women and men molestations, of which victims cry for help without getting any help or remedy to their ugly situation.
Truth be told, some leaders who represent the people at the National or State Assembly are not there for their selfish interest, but to propose and champion a bill to become a law for the overall interest of the masses. When a bill is passed in the Floor of any House of Assembly, be it Red or Green Chamber or State Assembly, it is imperative that it passes through stages, which include the First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading and finally the President or Governor’s Assent, thereby making the bill to become a law to be implemented.
Having established the above, Imo State House of Assembly led by Rt. Honourable Paul Emezeim, has done well in passing so many bills which His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma, has signed into law, while some bils are yet to be signed into law.
One of those bills, is the VAPP Bill initiated by the Member representing Njaba State Constituency, Hon Uju Jovita Onwudiwe (Igolo Njaba), that has been passed into law to help proffer solutions to numerous Imo citizen who are being molested and abused on daily basis.
27th July, 2021 will remain ever green in the history of Imo State, as the 9th Imo State House of Assembly passed into law, a bill chiefly sponsored by member representing Njaba State Constituency, Hon Uju Onwudiwe, seeking for the elimination of violence in private and public life, as well as prohibiting all forms of violence, including physical sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishments of offenders.
After the passage of VAPP Bill into law by the House, many have shown how happy they were to see that this special bill has finally seen the light of the day despite stiff oppositions faced by the sponsor of the bill.
I could remember, some key leaders in Imo State who were hiding under some persons to sponsor publications against this bill. Despite every obstacle the will of God prevailed. On my article to defend and educate the good people of Imo State on the need to support this bill, I received calls and messages telling me that am supporting evil while some were asking me how much did she pay me to be on her side. Well, this is a free world. My happiness today is not only that Imo people are happy, but despite all the stiff oppositions on the passage of this bill, it has finally become law that will help proffer solutions to home violence and other societal molestations.
Owing to this fact, I must join the good people of Njaba and Imo State in general to commend and thank God for this woman of great substance who thought it wise to propose this bill in order to add her impetus to eradicating domestic violence, abuse, avert future occurrence with a view to saving the future.
It is on record that the bill prior to its passage into law at plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu went through First, Second Reading before it was committed to Committee Stage. However, it further pass through public hearing where major stakeholders in the state, including traditional institutions, religious groups, civil society organizations, women representatives, market unions among others made their inputs, where the objects of the bill were practically interpreted to the public for easy assimilation.
The law which was a domestication of the VAPP Act in Imo State among the state in other states of the federation, however, seeks to criminalize any person who indulges in any form of violence against persons irrespective of gender in the state.
Having witnessed the passage of the VAPP Bill on that faithful day, Onwudiwe expressed optimism that the governor as a man who has the interest of the vulnerable Imo Women at his heart will not hesitate to give assent to the bill, explaining that the law will take care of the vulnerable persons, adding that the law will practically arrest all sorts of abnormalities, especially where a father impregnates his own daughter and allowed to go scot-free.
My inestimable readers, this law as passed will act as a monitoring gadget to ensure people do not commit any sort of violence against others. With the law in place, any person who commits any of such crimes as contained in the Law does that against the State Government.
Onwudiwe, therefore commended the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Her Excellency, Barr Chioma Uzodimma and the leadership of the Ninth Imo House of Assembly led by Speaker, Rt Hon Paul Emeziem and Rt Hon Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, as well as the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Dr Nkechi Ugwu for their support towards the success of the new Law.
This law contains a punishment for inflicting physical injury on a person, willfully placing a person in fear of physical injury, taking undue advantage of persons living with disability, prohibition of female circumcision or genital mutilation.
The law went further to cover a whole lot of issues that bother on public safety, which include willfully making false statements which have taken center stage in Imo State politics, depriving a person of his or her liberty, damage to property with intent to cause distress.
Many have been emotionally, verbally and psychologically abused. As a result, this law also covers the harmful widowhood practice which many widows in the state are suffering from. Most importantly, the bill contains punishment for sexual harassment and intimidation for the offender, especially the over talked “sex for grade”.
Today, Imo people can freely report any form of domestic violence, abuse to the appropriate quarters for reddress and punishment. Indeed Uju Onwudiwe has done well and history will not forget her for this great feat.
