Rape is Crime Against Humanity

Emmanuel Iheagwam

By + Emmanuel Iheagwam
I’d like to begin by reading to you part of our message to the Nation on the New Year’s day: January 1,2009.“We urge Mr. President, all State Governors and Local Government Chairmen to accomplish over 85% of their election promises to the electorate in this new year, 2009. We make this plea because the year 2010 is most likely to be a year of more political heat than light as the incumbents would be seeking re-election for a second term in 2011, while others warm up to challenge them. We wish to warn that second term would not be secured on a platter of gold. It must be based on good performance and good track record in the first term. There will be no question of imposition of . unacceptable candidates by political godfathers or rigging them into office as the judiciary is poised to reverse such cases.
“We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to learn from the mistakes of the past elections. It should start early enough to sensitise the electorate and also get ready for the 2011 elections. Necessary funds approved for it should be released in good enough time to enable it get the political stage properly set long before the elections are due to take place. INEC should really be INDEPENDENT.”
2011 General Elections Within the last few months, some countries notably The United States of America, Ghana, India, South Africa and recently, Germany have had their national elections with their respective presidents, and governors where applicable, sworn in. We did not hear of any litigation, not even with the election of Barack Obama, an African American. It is interesting that two of these countries are in Africa. (In the Holy Bible), Nathaniel said to Philip, “Can any good come out of Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and see.” (John 1:46). Ghana and South Africa have made Africa and Africans proud. They have set a good example for the rest of the African countries, and in particular the ‘giant of Africa’ - Nigeria.
While the world was busy celebrating the level of democracy attained by these (African) countries, our beloved country was on edge over a mere re- run election in some Local Government Areas of Ekiti State - what a shame! The attention of the world will again be focused on Nigeria during the 2011 general elections. Can we surprise the world by having a free, fair, and acceptable elections? Can we show the world that we are serious with our RE-BRANDING PROJECT by having a free, fair and acceptable elections? If staggered polls, as is being proposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will do the magic, we call on the National Assembly to take the necessary steps to approve it. We have had enough of shameful elections characterized by rigging, thuggery, political assassinations, imposition of candidates, etc.
Likely Effects of Global Alternative Sources of Energy on Nigerian Economy
It has been reported that Nissan Motors plans to start mass producing and marketing of electric cars by next year or even by the end of this year. The car is reported to be able to go up to 350 miles with one electric charge. Nissan motors plans to sell them at affordable prices. With the search for cheaper and cleaner sources of energy to reduce environmental pollution, research has reached advanced stages in the areas of solar energy, wind energy, biofuel, etc. Thank God for the recent report that bio-diesel has been formed from Jatropha and algae by Joel Nwakaire, a Nigerian undergraduate of the Department of Agriculture & Bio-resources Engineering, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
When all these are put together, the question then arises - what is likely to be their effects on the Nigerian economy that has depended, for decades, on oil alone? One of the obvious implications is that countries which used to import large quantities of oil from Nigeria would cut down their demand. The other is of course, the attendant reduction in oil revenue.
Decades ago, we told the world that the problem of Nigeria was not money but how to spend it. Those days are now clean gone. We are now to face the realities of our mismanagement of the huge oil revenue. If when Nigeria was the 6th largest world producer of oil, and at the same time among the poorest countries of the world, what would be the level of poverty when the revenue from oil is drastically reduced? Your guess is as good as mine. The call by the Governor of Lagos State that Nigerians should prepare for a Nigeria without oil is very apt. Everybody says, agriculture is the only way out. Yes! I agree, but certainly not our usual primitive agriculture by peasants. It is machanized agriculture that will save Nigeria.
The Global Economic Crises: Nigeria’s Strategies to cope
Many responsible governments all over the world are worried over the hardship imposed on their citizens and organisations because of the global economic crisis. Some are re-ordering their priorities while others have introduced some stringent measures to meet with the challenges.
For us in Nigeria, what are we doing? The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), we are told, is to determine, and fix salaries of all political and public office holders in Nigeria, taking cognisance of our economic realities and global economic crisis. That seems to be all.
At this critical period, when the poor are getting poorer, the incidence of corruption is on the increase. Almost on daily basis, new financial scams of billions and trillions of Naira are being reported involving the so called Nigerian elites. Strikes and threats of strikes are on the increase - NUT, ASUU, NASU, SANNU, Doctors and Nurses, the Organised Labour, etc. For us in Nigeria it is business as usual. There is nothing like global economic crises. We are like the proverbial foolish man who was busy chasing and catching rats while his house was ablaze. When shall we learn to be a serious Nation with our priorities properly ordered?
Corruption - Nigeria’s Incurable Disease
Jason Edward Steph, former general manager of Wilbros International testified that $6 million was distributed as bribe to senior Nigerian government officials, PDP stalwarts, NNPC officials, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and officials of Shell. Are these people ghosts? Don’t they have names? The world is watching and waiting.
In the Siemens scandal, four former Telecommunication Ministers and the wife of a former Vice-President of Nigeria were mentioned as beneficiaries of the scam. Again are these people ghosts? Don’t they have names? The world is watching and waiting.
N180 M HALLIBURTON BRIBE: As the world watched and waited for Nigeria to take action against her nationals involved in the scam, President Yar’Adua expanded the Okiro - led panel. Determined to wind-up investigations on the probe of some high - profile Nigerians involved in the scam, the – Mike Okiro joint panel was reported to have narrowed down the list of major suspects to six. The panel was said to have put the Interpol on red alert concerning the movement of , the people involved. We congratulate the Federal Government but don’t we have the right to know who those people are? The world is still watching and waiting.
A man who took NIO, 000 bribe from a motorist was sentenced to years in prison. Fair enough! Ours is a country where those who swallow gnats are crucified whereas those who swallow elephants and whales go scot-free! There is no doubt that in Nigeria there are men and women who are above the law. They can open their mouths and say anything, even the most offensive. They can commit the worst crimes in the full glare of people, and nothing happens to them. Until all Nigerians are made to be equal before the law, and the current cliché of the present administration i.e. “Rule of Law” is applied to all, the fight against corruption, both locally and internationally, will continue to be a mirage.

Insecurity
Insecurity of Life and Property has continued to plague the country. Kidnapping appears to be the most recent addition. To kidnap is to take somebody away by force and illegally, especially in order to obtain money in return for releasing him. The scourge of kidnapping, although said to be felt most in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, should be seen as a national problem since its negative effects transcend the zone. We urge the Federal and State governments to very quickly evolve strategies that would arrest the current spate of kidnapping before it gets completely out of hand.
Boko Haram Crisis: If government(s) had been proactive based on the intelligence/security reports allegedly made to them, the colossal loss of lives and property would have been averted. We implore people in authority to take intelligence/security reports more seriously.
Illegal Arms: The free flow of arms across Nigerian borders, and indeed their fabrication within the country,’ have greatly worsened the insecurity problem. These arms find their way into the hands of miscreants who use them to molest and harass innocent citizens. We urge the Federal Government to ensure that all entry points to Nigeria are properly guarded to check smuggling in of anus.
Rape
To rape is to force people to have sex when they do not want to. The incidence of this in Nigeria is rapidly increasing. Let us take a few instances as published in some of our Dailies:
(i) “Man rapes 4-year old girl - The 21-year old man allegedly raped the girl at Tudun Wada Gusau.” (Saturday Champion May 30, 2009).
(ii) “Man rapes 7 teenagers.” (Daily Champion April 7) (iii) “A 39-year old man raped a JSS 3 14 year old girl and put her in the family way” (FRCN 7a.m. News, April 27, 2009).
(iv) “A 29-year old engineer arraigned for allegedly attempting to rape his neighbour while she was sleeping.”
(v) We have the case of a 9-month old baby and that of a 3-year old baby being raped, and the case of a 65-year old woman being raped by young boys” according to, Mrs. Onyemaechi Mrakpor, Chairman, Women Affairs Committee, Delta House of Assembly.
(vi) “A 14-yr old girl was raped by her uncle and in the process became pregnant and infected with HIV.”
(vii) According to Betty Makoni, a 37-year old Zimbabwean woman, “The youngest girl I ever came across was a day-old baby who was raped”. Thank God this was not in Nigeria.
(viii) The daughter of a former deputy governor of Imo State was reportedly kidnapped and raped.
(ix) “Sani Maje, a middle aged man allegedly raped and impregnated a 13-year old girl.” (Daily Champion, May 18, 2009).
(x) Two men in court over rape. They raped the victim in a village in the FCT on June 24, 2009.
(xi) 14 year old boy rape a 45 year old woman.
(xii) 25-year old butcher rape a minor of 8-years (Daily Champion August 13,2009)
(xiii) Police nab two for raping 18 - year old girl. She said, “they have deflowered me. I was a virgin.” (The Daily Sun September 10, 2009)
(xiv) Three men who allegedly raped a 14 - year old girl had landed in the police net. (The Daily Sun, September 10, 2009)
Sisters and brothers, the trauma of being raped is unimaginable. The victim is terrorised and dehumanised. The one that brings out the gall in me is the rape by adults of the very underaged females, in fact, babies. This is desecration. This is defilement that may result in unwanted pregnancies, infection with HIV / AIDS or other STDS. It brings with it stigmatization of the victim. It may lead to death.
Rape is a crime against humanity - PERIOD! The penalty as approved by Imo State and Rivers State governments for kidnappers should also go for rapists. This is the time to check this dastardly act before it gets completely out of hand. Nigerians, especially the women, should rise against this crime.

Nigeria - A One Party State?
A situation whereby one political party predominates the politics of Nigeria is not good enough for our democracy. In fact, it is democracidal. Nigeria needs very strong and vibrant alternative party or parties.
We urge politicians who belong to parties other than the ruling one to stay put in their respective parties and make them formidable rather than abandoning them to join the ruling one.
Gen Colin Powell, a one time US Secretary of State, in his address to a group in Nigeria recently, pointed out that for democracy to take root in any society, political parties “must have a clash of views, clash of ideas which must revolve around the needs and interest of the people and nothing less.” For the ‘clashes’ to occur, strong opposition party, or parties must be in place. We call on parties other than the ruling one to wake up from their slumber and get organized. To sustain the present democracy which we cherish, we need a very strong alternative or opposition party.
Human Trafficking.
It should not be seen as if all about Nigeria is negative. We congratulate the Federal Government for the successful fight against human trafficking which has led to the elevation of Nigeria to Tier I status by the US. Thus Nigeria is now among “countries assessed as meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking.” We also congratulate the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and urge it not to relent its efforts until this new wave of slavery is completely eradicated.
Presidential Amnesty and The Niger Delta Militants.
We wish to commend Mr. President for his determination to find a lasting solution to the Niger Delta problems. We support the latest grant of amnesty to the militants. We call on the militants not to allow this golden opportunity for peace to slip by. We also urge all those who are bent on frustrating this peace move to place the interest of the nation above their selfish interests. Government should ensure adequate and effective rehabilitation, reintegration and reorientation programmes for the militants.
nExcerpts from an address delivered by Professor Iheagwam, the Bishop of the Diocese of Egbu, at the Second Session of the Fifth Synod of the Diocese.