Sexual Offences Bill: Soyinka’s Criticism Is Based On His Lack Of Knowledge About It
Chris Anyanwu, sponsor of the sexual offences bill has hit back at Nobel laureate, professor Wole Soyinka, over his comment on the bill, saying that he has little knowledge about the bill.
The one time senator, in a letter to Soyinka, explained that the respected academic may have been misled by someone who could not read through a proposal or explain the details of the bill.
READ ALSO: Wole Soyinka Urges Buhari To Develop A New Strategy
Soyinka had, on Friday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to withhold his assent to the bill (which is also known as the anti-rape bill), noting that a nation should not be founded on the sexual exploitation of the fragile and innocent.
“President Buhari – and here I make my first imposition on his presidency – should never place his assent on such a nefarious distraction.
“Its implications doom the victim to afflictions that churn the stomach even to think of the human toll. Perhaps those legislators think that vaginal fistula is something thought up by arm-chair critics with nothing better to occupy their minds. No matter, let those who profess a genuine concern declare their stand on this,” the renown professor was quoted to have said.
READ ALSO: Femi Falana Shocked With New Sexual Offences Bill
But Mrs. Anyanwu further explained that when implemented, the bill would remove the sufferings of parents by reducing their fear of what happens to their children in their absence.
“You have been misled by the misinformation circulated by someone who could not read or comprehend a legal draft; someone who did not have the patience to read through a proposal, see what was recommended and what was finally accepted.
“You were misled by someone who deliberately distorted the content of one of the most profound bills ever passed by the Nigerian legislature, scandalized the proponent and the institution for reasons that you and I may not know,” she explained.
She added that: “by your robust advocacy against the bill preventing sexual abuses of children, you foreclose the future of children in this society.
“But if I read you correctly, I have no doubt that you will reverse yourself on this once you have the correct information. This is why I have written you this letter.”
READ ALSO: Wole Soyinka Defaced National Theatre – Tunji Bamishigbin
Mrs. Anyanwu, according to Premium Times, argued that Soyinka’s first imposition on Buhari is based on his understanding of the false information circulated by the same offenders he despised.
She therefore maintained that: “I plead with you as a man who has been found to be a great man of honour and bestowed with the highest literary honour in the world to reconsider,” she said.
“Let me on behalf of the innumerable victims of abuse in Nigeria; let me invoke the spirit of Cynthia who fell victim in Lagos; and let me plead on behalf of the many wives and husbands deliberately infected with HIV by their partners whose suffering impelled this bill, that you reverse your instruction to Mr. President.
“The President of the Federal Republic looks to old sages like you for positive direction. That was what you intended to give him.”
The post Sexual Offences Bill: Soyinka’s Criticism Is Based On His Lack Of Knowledge About It appeared first on Naij News – Nigeria news | today’s Breaking news & headlines..
Source: APC VS PDP NIGERIA NEWS
Sexual Offences Bill: Soyinka’s Criticism Is Based On His Lack Of Knowledge About It
No comments:
Post a Comment