The Rivers State government on Thursday signed a law making the treatment of gunshot victims mandatory in the state.
The State Governor, Nyesom Wike also assented to two other laws: the Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law No. 2 of 2022, and the Rivers State Pension Reform (Amendment) Law No. 4 of 2022.
The TRIBUNE reports that the governor while assenting to the law; Rivers State Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Law No. 3 of 2022, stated that most socioeconomic and educational problems linger in the country because Nigerians elect people who cannot solve problems.
Many innocent Nigerians and suspected criminals have died out of treatable gunshot wounds because of provisions from the security agencies preventing the treatment of such persons without clearance from the police.
Such victims usually died from bleeding arising from lack of care and attention by medical personnel because there was no authorisation from the police or in the process of securing such permits.
Speaking on the importance of the law, Governor Wike stated that within the confines of the law, any victim of a gunshot would be required to be properly identified, so that such person can be traced should the person runway after treatment.
He, however, explained that the law is in furtherance of the responsibility of the government to protect life because even the criminal needs to be alive to be tried and made to suffer for his crime.
On the law to prohibit the curtailment of women’s right to share in family property law, he expressed displeasure at how most cultures, particularly in Rivers State, do not encourage what prompted growth among the people.
He wondered why women are deprived of sharing in the inheritance of their families when they are often the most useful members of society in comparison to most male children.
The Governor asserted that the law is important to the development of the state because it will enable its people to actualise their potential, as women will be allowed by law to inherit their entitlements.
He said; “I don’t know why it’s a taboo; because you’re a girl, because this is a woman, you’re not entitled to inherit what belongs to your father.
“It is not you who decides whether you will have a girl or you’ll have a boy, it is God. So, put yourself in their shoes today whereby the mercy of God you have three children and they’re all girls and you struggle in life to see what you can keep for your children.
“Tomorrow, one of their uncles comes, and says, my friend, girls don’t inherit their father’s property. With all your efforts in life, somebody comes to discriminate against them, why? We have even found out that women are more useful to us than even men.
“The day, you’re getting old and dying you’ll know that you need more daughters than men. They will leave their husbands’ houses and come to take care of you.”
