ONELGA WOMEN FRUSTRATED IN PORT HARCOURT
PRESS RELEASE!
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN SOCIETY (ONELGA BRANCH) CONDEMNS THE MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN WHO WERE IN PORT HARCOURT TO ENDORSE CHIEF BARR EZENWOR NYESOM WIKE
Investigations have shown that women from Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area were invited to Rivers State Government House for a political event for endorsing Chief Barr. Ezenwor Nyesom Wike for a second term as the Governor of Rivers State. The women who were promised stipends for welfare were conveyed in their numbers to Government house in the morning of Monday 26th February 2018. Leading the women was a prominent female Onelga politician by the name Dr. Mrs. Grace Akaloku. The event appeared to be a successful one as the women fulfilled their task for the day which was to make a statement declaring their support and endorsement for the Governor through Dr. Akaologu.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a sad day for the women because there was really no adequate provision of care for the women. The women who spoke to eye witnesses lamented over what they described as a cruel treatment from the people who were supposed to see to their welfare after pulling them out from their various homes. They complained of being out since morning without water and food. Others with health conditions complained of the danger the situation posed to their health since they lacked access to their medication.
It is true that as women, we are mainly driven by fancy and gratification; it is true that we are soft and tend to always succumb to the wishes of the men. But should these provide the rationality for men (politicians) to mistreat women? What is more disheartening and appears to be a great betrayal to womanhood is a situation where few educationally privileged women make themselves available as tools for the exploitation of other disadvantaged women.
The National Council of Women Society, (Onelga Branch) condemns in totality this level of inhuman treatment meted out on the women of Onelga. We think that the women were brought out to suffer because they were kept in an inhuman condition from the early hours of Monday 26th to the evening of the same day. The women were without water and food; they were famished, exposed to the sun and lacked access to medicine. Some of them were seen sleeping on the road with their wrappers spread on the tar and on the concretes. Women who couldn't contain the pain resorted to crying. It was a sorry sight and must be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians.
We are using this medium to call on the commissioner for Women Affairs; Barr Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri, to as a matter of urgency, and for the sake of preserving the dignity of women, to live up to her responsibility by investigating this sad development and identify the root cause of why Rivers women were treated in such a debased manner. We also advise the commissioner to henceforth place premium on the welfare of women. It's important that she also condemns this humiliating experience to discourage future occurrence.
Governance must be about service to the people and protection of the human person. Ogba women surely do not deserve such treatment from the Governor, the PDP or from the Government of Rivers State. They deserve better.
We won't forget to advise the women of Rivers State to resist the urge of being used by Political Buccaneers to achieve their aims which hardly reflect the wishes of the general public. Women should join politics based on convictions and based on a patriotic drive towards the progress of our dear state and nation.
Lady Beatrice Alua Adira
Publicity Secretary
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN SOCIETY (ONELGA BRANCH) CONDEMNS THE MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN WHO WERE IN PORT HARCOURT TO ENDORSE CHIEF BARR EZENWOR NYESOM WIKE
Investigations have shown that women from Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area were invited to Rivers State Government House for a political event for endorsing Chief Barr. Ezenwor Nyesom Wike for a second term as the Governor of Rivers State. The women who were promised stipends for welfare were conveyed in their numbers to Government house in the morning of Monday 26th February 2018. Leading the women was a prominent female Onelga politician by the name Dr. Mrs. Grace Akaloku. The event appeared to be a successful one as the women fulfilled their task for the day which was to make a statement declaring their support and endorsement for the Governor through Dr. Akaologu.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a sad day for the women because there was really no adequate provision of care for the women. The women who spoke to eye witnesses lamented over what they described as a cruel treatment from the people who were supposed to see to their welfare after pulling them out from their various homes. They complained of being out since morning without water and food. Others with health conditions complained of the danger the situation posed to their health since they lacked access to their medication.
It is true that as women, we are mainly driven by fancy and gratification; it is true that we are soft and tend to always succumb to the wishes of the men. But should these provide the rationality for men (politicians) to mistreat women? What is more disheartening and appears to be a great betrayal to womanhood is a situation where few educationally privileged women make themselves available as tools for the exploitation of other disadvantaged women.
The National Council of Women Society, (Onelga Branch) condemns in totality this level of inhuman treatment meted out on the women of Onelga. We think that the women were brought out to suffer because they were kept in an inhuman condition from the early hours of Monday 26th to the evening of the same day. The women were without water and food; they were famished, exposed to the sun and lacked access to medicine. Some of them were seen sleeping on the road with their wrappers spread on the tar and on the concretes. Women who couldn't contain the pain resorted to crying. It was a sorry sight and must be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians.
We are using this medium to call on the commissioner for Women Affairs; Barr Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri, to as a matter of urgency, and for the sake of preserving the dignity of women, to live up to her responsibility by investigating this sad development and identify the root cause of why Rivers women were treated in such a debased manner. We also advise the commissioner to henceforth place premium on the welfare of women. It's important that she also condemns this humiliating experience to discourage future occurrence.
Governance must be about service to the people and protection of the human person. Ogba women surely do not deserve such treatment from the Governor, the PDP or from the Government of Rivers State. They deserve better.
We won't forget to advise the women of Rivers State to resist the urge of being used by Political Buccaneers to achieve their aims which hardly reflect the wishes of the general public. Women should join politics based on convictions and based on a patriotic drive towards the progress of our dear state and nation.
Lady Beatrice Alua Adira
Publicity Secretary
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