David Aworawo: Cultural Practices That Violate Women's Rights Have No Place in Nigeria

David Aworawo, a Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos, has condemned cultural practices that undermine women's rights, asserting that no tradition can justify abuse. His comments arise in response to growing outrage over reported sexual violence that occurred during a festival in Ozoro, Delta State.

Aworawo's remarks coincide with a statement from a coalition of more than 500 women's rights organizations, collectively known as Womanifesto, which recently condemned the incidents of sexual violence and shared disturbing videos depicting women being assaulted and stripped by mobs.

The coalition described these acts as criminal, stating emphatically, "This is not our culture. This is organized and institutionalized abuse, and it must be treated as a crime." They urged the authorities to pursue and prosecute those responsible for these actions.

In an interview with ARISE News, Aworawo expressed strong agreement with the condemnation, declaring, “There should be no space in the current dispensation for people to make laws and say women should not come out. It’s a violation of their fundamental rights.” He pointed out that cultural practices need to change and must not contravene constitutional rights.

He elaborated on the evolution of culture, stating, “What we call culture was once the accepted norm of the best people of that time, which we inherited. Whenever we identify elements that are indecent, we must discard them.”

Aworawo also dismissed any justification for the alleged abuses based on tradition, calling the situation both unacceptable and shameful. "The NBA calls it shameful, and I completely agree. Those who commit these acts show no shame," he emphasized.

He noted that while the festival in question occurs once every decade or so, the violence reported this time represents an alarming alteration from past events. “This celebration occurs every 10 to 12 years. We've never experienced a situation where a woman who comes out could expect to be raped. This time, it seems to have been twisted by criminals and thugs,” he remarked.

Aworawo urged the authorities to take decisive action to restore order and ensure accountability regarding the incident. “This should be an opportunity for a cleanup in the area… We have far too many ‘yahoo boys’—internet fraudsters—among them,” he stated.

Echoing this message, Womanifesto underscored that Nigeria's 1999 Constitution guarantees rights, including dignity and freedom of movement, which should never be undermined under any circumstances. They also referenced the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, indicating that threats or restrictions on women under duress are criminal offenses.

Aworawo called for government intervention to prevent such incidents from recurring and cautioned against allowing cultural arguments to infringe upon fundamental rights. "The government must establish a framework to ensure this ends," he added.

On the same program, legal expert Jide Ologun expressed deep concern regarding the incidents, emphasizing how troubling it is that such events still occur in contemporary society. He stressed the obligation of the state to address sexual violence and other societal issues, insisting that justice should never be compromised.

Human rights advocate Opeyemi Adamolekun reinforced the constitutional stance, arguing that no tradition or cultural practice can undermine women's bodily autonomy. "No tradition, no deity, no community elder holds the right to suspend the bodily autonomy of women," she stated, affirming that constitutional rights are always applicable.

Womanifesto has demanded the immediate allocation of security forces, the identification and arrest of individuals featured in the viral videos, and legal action to be taken against them. They also urged traditional leaders in Ozoro to publicly distance themselves from any claims that these actions are rooted in cultural traditions, calling on the Delta State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and international organizations, including the United Nations, to act without delay.