Enugu — An Enugu-based non-governmental organisation, Happy Home Foundation, has appealed to the state assembly to reject the Equal Opportunity and Child Rights bills currently before it.
The Chairperson of the group, Mrs Dympna Ezeani, made the appeal in Enugu on Wednesday during a courtesy call on the deputy governor of the state, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo.
Ezeani, who is a retired chief magistrate, said that a cursory study of the contents of the bills and what they sought to achieve in the long run was against Nigerian values.
“We have heard of these two bills which will soon be passed by the state house of assembly.
“These bills were rejected by the Sixth Enugu State House of Assembly. As a mother, we believe you cannot be part of a law that allows abortion in the name of a mother exercising her rights,” she said.
Ezeani said that the bills contained alien practices not pronounced which would be degrading to humanity.
“The dignity of the woman is being a woman as God has created her. We fear for our girls. We fear for our boys because there are alien practices which the bills seek to promote.
“Our foundation has studied the bills and the intention of the proponents and come to the conclusion that it is not the best for us,” she said.
She said that the former members of the assembly understood the purposes the bills sought to achieve and that was why they rejected them.
“To the proponents of the bills, gender is a social construct and sex means anything the society calls it.
“These bills will look down on motherhood. They will in the long run promote gay and lesbian practices in the country,” she said.
Ezeani said that the foundation had the vision of making families and marriages happy, strong and stable.
“Many marriages and families are sick and dysfunctional. These have an effect on the children and society.
“Most of the societal ills we have today are partly or wholly due to these and we invite you to partner with us,” Ezeani said.
Responding, Ezeilo urged the foundation to make its voice heard whenever the bills would be presented for public hearing.
“I don’t know how far the bills have gone but whenever it is slated for public hearing you need to make your contribution and don’t develop apathy.
“The proponents of the bills will also speak. Then the legislators will decide on what to legislate on,” she said.
Ezeilo said that mothers had a big role to play to ensure that families were given their rightful place in the society. (NAN)