Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun, yesterday sought an end to violence and abuse against women and girls, especially wife battering, saying beating one’s wife is an act of cowardice.
Gbadebo said women are special members of humanity requiring caution in relating with them in a family unit.
He urged men to be patient with their wives and girl-child as well as cultivate healthy procedures for resolving arguments and conflicts.
The paramount ruler gave the advice at the maiden Town Hall meeting on protection of women and girls at his palace in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The event, an initiative of Women Radio 91.7Fm with support from Ford Foundation and Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, was themed, ‘Strengthening family and community bonds’.
Chairman, St Ives Communications Limited, parent company of Women Radio 91.7FM, Dr. Babatunde Okewale, lamented that in many homes and neighbourhoods, women and girls were vulnerable to abuse, neglect and violence.
Okewale said the practice was not what was inherited from our forefathers who protected their women and girls, advising that this is not a legacy that should be passed down to male children.
He said: “As men, fathers, brothers, uncles, husbands and leaders, the responsibility of building strong families and safe communities rests on our shoulders. We cannot ignore the reality that in many of our homes and neighborhoods, women and girls are vulnerable to abuse, neglect and violence.
“This is not the culture we inherited. It is not the legacy we should pass down to our sons. Our forefathers built communities on respect, discipline and protection of the family unit.
“Somewhere along the way, we have allowed certain harmful practices and attitudes to take root and it’s affecting homes, our marriages and the future of our children.”
In a communique, the participants called on the security agencies, especially the police, to desist from ending domestic violence cases – involving sexual and physical abuse, in the station under the guise of “it is a family affairs’’.
The communique also recommended that a man that couldn’t protect woman(wife) and daughters should not contemplate marriage or child -bearing, even as it called for a cultural ban on people with history women and girl-child abuse from taking chieftaincy titles.
The communique also called for revival of core family values in homes and establishment of a forum for resolving women issues.
4th Alleged fraud: Osupa prevents re-arrest of Portable in Ilorin
Fuji icon, Saheed Akorede popularly known as Osupa, yesterday prevented the re-arrest of Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable after another petition surfaced against him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fuji musician discontinued his case against Portable, following an appeal by prominent Nigerians to settle the matter out of court.
In a new development, Managing Director of Starwood Hotels Ilorin, Mr Yemi George, told NAN that Osupa prevailed on him not to re-arrest Portable after collecting N6.3million for a show that he did not perform.
“I have obtained every necessary document to re-arrest him today (Tuesday) to refund my money but out of respect for the legendary fuji musician (Osupa) , he prevailed on me not to.
“My company, Starwood Hotels O2 Arena in collaboration with the leadership of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) put an event together for Portable to perform but he never did” George said.
According to a document obtained by NAN, titled Petition for fraudulent and obtaining by false pretense the sum of N6.3m, the petitioners said they entered agreement with Portable on July 22, 2024, which he never respected.
According to the petition, Portable was paid N6.3m to perform at the ‘Kwara Tampan Fiesta’ on Sept. 29, 2024, but failed to appear on stage at the agreed-upon time.
Despite arriving over 16 hours late, he allegedly sneaked out of his hotel lodge without fulfilling his promise to perform.
The petitioners claim that Portable’s actions caused significant financial loss and distress, and they are seeking a thorough investigation, prosecution, and restitution of the N6,300,000 allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
The petition was signed by Chief Olu Amusan, Governor, TAMPAN and Ayodele Demokun on behalf of Starwood Hotels 02 Arena.
NAN recalls that the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Kwara command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, had in a statement on Sunday confirmed the arrest of Portable following a petition received from Osupa.
The petition borders on serious allegations which includes criminal defamation, threat to life, incitement, character assassination, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and the use of abusive and insulting words.
