Owerri — Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has apologised to Christian leaders over the state’s controversial abortion laws and urged the state house of assembly to completely delete the section from its provisions.
Okorocha, while addressing members of the Imo State House of Assembly yesterday at the Ojukwu centre in Owerri, urged the lawmakers not only to amend the law but to delete the section completely from the law.
The controversial law enacted by the state assembly provides that women have the right to family planning and medical abortion in case of rape which the churches especially Catholic faithful have kicked against, describing it as a license to kill innocent children.
Okorocha yesterday said his administration has its foundation on the churches and could not afford to ignore their faith just as he pleaded with the lawmakers to take another look at the issue with a view to amending the section that talked about rape and incest.
He however urged the Catholic archbishop to allow people to marry more than one wife based on the culture and tradition of the land so they could bear many children.
Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly Benjamin Uwajumogu regretted that the house was misunderstood on its intention saying the law was meant to address all forms of violence against women. He promised to consider amending the section.
