Atam Linus Odey|27 June 2018
Speaker Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA), Rt.Hon(Barr.) John Gaul Lebo has expressed the readiness and willingness of the House to collaborate with International Federation of Female Lawyers to eliminate obnoxious cultural practices in the state.
Hon. Lebo stated this on Monday, when a delegation of International Federation of Female Lawyers(FIDA),Cross River State Chapter paid him a courtesy visit in his office, in Calabar.
He said this partnership is timely and necessary as some negative and abusive cultural practices like "Money Marriage" has attracted huge media attention which has become a scandal. A traditional practice where young girls are being sold out to off set old outstanding debt incurred by the family and the victim called "money woman". Barr. Lebo described the obnoxious tradition as repugnant to the natural course of justice and conscience.
The speaker charged FIDA to carry out town hall meetings with people with community value(PHC staff, teachers, opinion leaders) at the local level to sensitize and educate the people. He assured them that in addition to the administration of criminal law passed, the House will raise a motion of public importance to address this deleterious cultural practice. He spoke emphatically that this negative practice must stop and be eliminated.
Speaking earlier,the Chairperson of FIDA, Barr. Beatrice Awah frowned seriously at "Baby Bride" traditional practice among Becheve communities in Obanliku, CRS. She described it as "irritating and disturbing". She solicited the synergy with CRSHA to eliminate the practice, fight against rape, child rights advocacy and juvenile offences and provision of office accommodation.
She condoled with CRSHA over the untimely demise of Hon. Stephen Akomaye Ukpukpen, member representing Obudu State Constituency.
Odey
Writes from Calabar
