Bayelsa
women have expressed their fears about the forth coming elections. They are
afraid of losing their husbands, children and relations at the December 5
governorship election in the state and do not want their state to be turned
into a theatre of war, bloodshed and brigandage in the name of election.
Their
fears are genuine. They have experienced how a primary election of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), an exercise that was supposed to be a family
affair, snowballed into violence and led to shooting, beating, kicking and
machete attacks.
They
looked helpless as youths advancing the course of their political benefactor in
the APC stormed the party secretariat, pulled down billboards, tore posters and
banners and caused tension in the Yeni-Zuegene area of Yenagoa; demanding that
the state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe, must be made the running
mate of Chief Timipre Sylva.
Besides,
the women are terrified over controversies generated by the plan of a group of
militants under the auspices of Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) to lead a
10,000-man protest against Sylva.
Despite
how convincing MBB sounds on maintaining the peace during the protest, the
women nurse fears that such demonstration may lead to a bloody clash between
Sylva’s men and the organisers.
The
Bayelsa women are yet to recover from the emotional trauma resulting from the
war in their neighbouring Rivers State, where youths were mowed down in their
prime and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed. It was an election,
they recalled, that caused that sicken war.
Such
should not be their portion in the only Ijaw homogeneous state. What will the
women do to stop looming electoral violence before, during and after the polls?
They are pleading with security agencies to be at alert without compromising
the rules of engagements. They are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to
help them keep the peace of the state. The women have also started meeting to
sensitise members of the public to the need for a violent-free polls.
In
the circumstances, therefore, women from various communities have unanimously
decided to pool resources against all forms of electoral violence and
intimidation ahead of the December 5 governorship election.
They
have gathered themselves under the umbrella of Women of Excellence (WE)
coordinated by Mrs. Tari-Ere Gita to present a common front against violence.
To this end, a seminar on electoral violence was held on Monday, October 12 at
the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.
Making
their positions known, Gita, alongside the Public Relations Officer (PRO),
Amaemi Bekeyei-Alaki and the group’s Non-Indigene Coordinator, Alexis Sowunmi,
they maintained that all parties to the election should adhere to the rules of
engagement.
Gita
said: “In recent past, Bayelsa State was smeared by violence, killings,
kidnappings, cultism; state machinery was used to sponsor terrorism with
political opponents as targets. Perceived enemies of government were not left
out. Many indigenes of Bayelsa went into exile in neighbouring states and
far-flung places”.
Gita,
however, enjoined all the parties to pursue peace and political tolerance,
insisting that the election must be held in an atmosphere of civility, law and
order.
She called
on politicians to desist from heating up the polity. She also urged security
agencies to ensure protection of lives and property before, during and after
the election. She urged them to arrest and deal with anybody promoting violence
in the state.
“We
call on President Buhari to direct all relevant security agencies to ensure
that people of Bayelsa are spared the anguish of political violence and wanton
destruction of lives and property.
“Mr.
President must not be seen to encourage or tactically support electoral
violence, and must therefore take appropriate steps to ensure that the election
is free and fair.
“The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure that the
forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State is held in accordance with
the law and in line with international electoral best practices.
“To
our women, our aged citizens and the physically-challenged, we say come out and
decide your future on December 5, this year. To our youths, we say shun
violence,” she said.
She
said WE was established to promote political, economic and cultural dynamism
inherent in every woman.
Gita
further said the association operates on the platform of unity of its members
without prejudice to their educational and social status.
She
said the group advocates, among other things, women participation in
governance, non-violence against women, strengthening of the home front,
legislations, economic empowerment of women and peaceful co-existence.
Source: The Nation
