A Lagos lawyer, Mr. Folorunso Ogunekun, has condemned the continuous practice of female circumcision amongst Nigerians, saying it constitutes a real threat to the health and well-being of the girl child.
He stressed that circumcising a female child usually exposed such a child to tetanus, which is a killer disease.
Ogunekun said he was, therefore, “absolutely constrained” to bring to the notice of the people affected directly or indirectly how inimical female circumcision could be to the society.
The legal practitioner argued that female circumcision in the society contradicts Section 2 of the Lagos State Child Rights Law of 2008.
He said, “The aforesaid law reads in part: ‘A child shall be given protection and care as necessary for the well-being of the child, taking into consideration the rights and duties of the child’s parents, legal guardians, individuals, institutions, services, agencies, organisations or bodies legally responsible for the child.’
Ogunekun said that according to the law, it had become wrong for other family members to force parents to circumcise their female children, stressing, “It is worthy to note that an innocent female child being circumcised is prone to the deadly diseases- Tetanus.”
Quoting the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary to back his claim, the legal practitioner said, “Tetanus is a disease in which the muscles, especially the jaw muscles, become stiff caused by bacteria entering the body through cuts or wounds.”
He argued that the avoidable danger highlighted in the dictionary definition underscored the refusal of parents to allow the circumcision of their female children, adding that they had the right to act in that manner.
Citing a case of one Mr. Showole Joseph Iyanu Ayodele, Ogunekun further described as unwise and barbaric for family members to prevail on a particular parent to circumcise their female child. He noted that it could also be against the religious belief of such parents.
He added, “Little wonder, one Mr. Showole Joseph Iyanu Ayodele frankly rebuffed the elder Showoles, who attempted to compel him to circumcise his daughter, Ayodele-Showole Naomi Tifeoluwa.
“Mr. Showole Joseph Iyanu Ayodele stood his ground before his family elders that he shall resist any attempt to circumcise his daughter, Ayodele-Showole Naomi Tifeoluwa, with the last drop of blood flowing in him.
“Regardless whose ox is gored, we salute Mr. Showole Joseph Iyanu Ayodele’s courage.”
