A human right activist, Mufliat Fijabi has called on all parents to instill discipline in their boy child with the same zeal with which they bring up their girl child so as to drastically reduce the number of boy child who grows up to be nuisance in the society.
Mrs. Fijabi, who is also the convener of Nigerian Women Trust Fund, stated this while reacting to the allegation of molestation leveled against Nollywood comedian, Olanrewaju James, popularly called Baba Ijesha. She charged all parents to give same attention to the education, upbringing and support to both genders of the children.
“Both male and female children have every right to be educated, they have every right to be supported to become responsible citizens. So the fact that you often times that people talk about girl child education is because of the patriarchal society we live in which doesn’t encourage girl child education. Most times, they believe if a girl is is educated, she ends up in her husband’s house and does not bear the father’s name any longer. And that’s why there is an emphasis on girl child education but not to the neglect of the male child’s education. Both genders should be sent to school to be responsible, to contribute their own expertise to the development of the country. So no child should be left behind. They are all important.” Fijabi emphasized.
She reiterated that women participation in politics is important so as to maintain balanced society. She called on all women of all ages not to relegate themselves to the background as their position in the society cannot be filled by male gender.
She advised women to keep the flag of political participation flying and not relent in their efforts, stressing that encouraging women participation in politics is not about competing, but about having a society that is well developed and balanced which is inclusive of women who are almost have of the population.
“It is a way of acknowledging the fact that we can attain peace when we hear the voices of women playing important roles in society” Fijabi stated.
She frowned at people saying that Baba Ijesha was able to molest the underage girl because of the lackadaisical attitude of the mother, although calling on all mothers to be more vigilant.
“I don’t want to agree that mother’s lackadaisical attitude is the reason why any man that is old enough to be a child’s father should go and molest or harass her. Regardless of whatever circumstances we find ourselves, there is dignity of human person and every child right must be respected. So the society is responsible for every human being, I do not appreciate and like the fact that the young girl went through that experience; we should not blame the mother but the society where we all come from which has not enabled a system that would produced responsible citizens who would acknowledge the right of everyone and make sure that the society is free of violence.” She added.
“The young girl’s right has been violated, her peace has been violated. I’m sure she is psychologically affected now. Although I called on mothers to be more vigilant, but at the same time, men who are fathers, uncle, brothers are expected to respect rights of women, girls and believe that they also have future. They are not to be used as sex objects or as toys to be played around with.” Fijabi reiterated.
“I’m very hopeful that with the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP BILL) in place in Nigeria as a country and with many states domesticating it, when culprits are caught, they will be made to face the music while other necessary cause of justice will take its rightful place.” She concluded.