By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
Wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Martha Emmanuel has said, her organization, the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Initiative FEYReP has so far arrested seven fathers, for alleged rape and defilement of their daughters in Akwa Ibom State.
Mrs. Emmanuel, who is the founder of the NGO disclosed this at the weekend during an interaction with journalists in Uyo.
She expressed worry over the disturbing instances of sodomy in the State saying that, her organisation would ensure that the perpetrators are convicted in no time from now.
She added that, FEYRep is in partnership with the Judiciary, Police and FIDA to disclose in the internet identities of rape convicts in the State to act as deterrent to intending rapists.
“As I speak we have about seven fathers in police cell awaiting trial for defiling their daughters. These issues trouble my heart a lot and I can assure you that justice must be done.
“FEYReP is in partnership with the Judiciary, Police, FIDA. No perpetrators will go scot-free. Anytime the cases that involve us would be tried in the court, we must be present. That is to tell you how serious it is. The judge will also know that we are very serious about these.”
It could be recalled that the State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2020 stipulates 21 years imprisonment for rape culprits.
The governor’s wife also told journalists that her pet project has secured the conviction of 10 rape culprits in the past six months.
According to her, “I can say authoritatively that in the last six months, and with the help of the Judiciary, Police and FIDA), we have secured conviction of ten culprits of rape and other gender based violence (GBV) in the state.”
She explained that, she was spurred into the campaign against GBV because, “most of the victims are vulnerable children, poor women, who do not have a voice. I am happy to lend my voice, to be their voice, to speak for them any day and anytime.
“What would a 60 year old man be looking for in a two or three year old infant? Is that not devilish? We can’t condone such an abnormal behaviour in our society,” she said.
Speaking on other areas of her intervention, the First Lady remarked that she has in the last six years in office as governor’s wife, placed premium on the family component of the society, stating that, it remains the bedrock of a functional society.
“We believe that if we get it right at the foundational level, the society would have been better off. This is why we have invested so much in many Akwa Ibom families. All the programmes at FEYReP are towards projecting a successful family unit.”
On funding of her projects and the sustainability of FEYReP after office in 2023, she said “We get our funding from good spirited individuals and organisations. They see what we do and trust in us to always deliver. I’ve always said that FEYReP will outlive this administration. We have a structure and if you take a walk down to the office at Ewet Housing Estate, you would see how busy that place is.”
