By Adekola Afolabi

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The Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has signed into law, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) 2021.
The state Violence Against Persons (Prohibition Bill 2021) was recently passed into law by the state House of Assembly.
With the signing, Ondo state has joined the league of States that have Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law in place.
While appending his signature on Thursday at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka Akure, the Governor explained that although the law seeks to protect everyone against all forms of violence, the state was particular about the violence against girl child
He bemoaned a situation where fathers rape their daughters, teachers raping their students, and guardians raping girls under their care, saying the law would catch up with anybody who indulges in such a heinous act.
The Governor who disclosed that the law contain so many things, revealed that anybody that abandons his/her child or spouses abandoning themselves have violated the law and would be prosecuted under it.
He added that the law also takes care of political violence against women, and economic abuse of women, rental and succession rights, among others.
“You can be charged for unnecessary violence in public place, and you can be charged for violence in private place. So, they want us to live a civil life,” he added.
Akeredolu who described the law a wonderful document, particularly appreciated his wife, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu for her passion and interests in matters that affect women and the girl-child.
He equally applauded members of the State House of Assembly for the expeditious way they passed the Bill into Law.
The ceremony also had in attendance wife of the Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu; the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and wife; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun and other members; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale; the commander of Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of selected schools Civil Society groups, women groups among others.
In her remarks, Wife of the Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, saluted the Governor for all his good works in the state particularly his commitment to protection of the rights of girls and women.
The First Lady said her love for women and the need to eradicate incidents of rape and other violence against girls and minors motivated her to work for the success for the law.
She said that time has come for all to rise up to the occasion, speak against the heinous act and defend women and girl child.
She lauded members of the Ondo State House of Assembly for the good job done before passing the bill into law, just as she called for effective implementation of the law to serve its purpose.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu further called for massive sensitization and enlightenment by the relevant stakeholders to ensure the people are aware of the new law.
Also, the Speaker Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, lauded the efforts of Akeredolu and the First Lady for their love and care for women and girl child in the state.
On her part, representative of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Catherine Ogunjebi, urged the public to report any violation of the bill, with a promise to ensure that the case would be pursued to a logical conclusion.
There were also goodwill messages from other stakeholders including NAPTIP and NSCDC Anti-Woman Trafficking, among others.