By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN CITY — FORMER Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday, disclosed that his administration would establish adequate legal framework for the protection of widows through- out the country.
This came as Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State also stressed the need for women empowerment in the society, charging Nigerians to protect the women folk both in politics and other fields of life for the betterment of society.

Babangida and Uduaghan spoke in Benin City, yesterday, on the occasion of the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St Albert’s Catholic Church, Benin City.

The duo were at the event on the invitation of the former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie.

The former Chief Whip celebrates the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary every year.

In his address, Gen. Babangida, who was represented by business mogul, Sir Emeka Okonkwo, lamented that from her throne of grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary must be showing some disgust for the very pathetic treatment being meted out on widows in many parts of the country.

“Until recently, widows in some parts of the country were made to drink the bath water used in washing the body of their deceased husbands as guarantee that they were not responsible for their husbands’ death.

“The widow has no share in her late husband’s property, even where it is clear that such property had been jointly acquired by both of them while the husband was alive.

After all, in most parts of the country, she too is considered part of the man’s property,” he stated.

He added: “Brethren, help is on the way. By the special grace of the Almighty God, sometime soon, we hope to be able to establish adequate legal framework for the protection of widows.”

“The widow must be given her due pride of place. She must be treated with dignity and self-respect. Our framework shall be in tandem with the foreshadowing provided by the Better Life for Rural Women, which we had in this country in not too long ago,” he stated.

On his part, Dr. Uduaghan, who described Senator Owie as one of his political leaders, commended him for the invitation extended to him and assured that his administration would provide the fund for the purchase of a piece of land, with a view to extending the church.

The church service followed a lecture in Honour of Virgin Mary, delivered by Professor B.I.C. Ijomah.