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By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa.
A non-governmental organisation, Riverine Peace Initiative of Niger Delta, RIPIND during the week in yenagoa organized a one day programme tagged “Bayelsa Women Interface With the Next Governor.”
The Convener of RIPIND, Hon. Mrs Ato Alfreder speaking with journalists shortly after the event disclosed that the essence of the programme was necessitated by the need to have a free, fair and violence free election.
According to the convener, Women are at the centre – stage of election, saying due to the volatile terrain of the state, especially as it relates to election women would have to be sensitized on possible ways of participating in the electoral process without harassment and victimization of any sort during and after the polls.
Speaking as panelist in symposia organized as part of the programme, guest panelist, chairperson Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ Bayelsa State, Mrs. Maria Olodi – Osuma lamented the extent of political marginalization facing women in the society. The NAWOJ chairperson described women as the most affected folks in the political process just as she mentioned that in today’s world the role of the women in politics cannot be overemphasized.
Olodi – Osuma said, “today the women are the most affected and concerned political stakeholders. If a woman is not contesting an election, her husband is, if her husband isn’t, her brother, sister, father, or mother or in-laws and friends or her husband’s friends or relations are contesting, infact women are at the centre stage of politics so the women must and should be protected against electoral violence”.
Speaking also as a guest panelist in a separate discourse held at the event former governorship Aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Mr. Tobin Igiri described the state as endowed with natural resources.
Igiri who described the level of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta Region, especially the coastal areas noted that the Government and citizenry are not doing enough to keep the earth safe and secure for the overall economic benefit of the state and the indigenous people who use it as a source of livelihood.
In a related development, Governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP Sunny Agadabiri has described the rate of vote-buying in Nigeria’s election as alarming, saying the trend has impacted negatively on the politics of the Nation in that electorates now prefer rather to sell their votes for almost priceless amount to even the most unqualified politicians to be elected into position as leader.
Agadabiri who gave these revelations to journalists on the sideline of the RIPIND Women Interface with the next Governor programme noted that but for the ugly phenomena of votes buying which has fast permeated into the politics of Nigeria, the states would have had the best and most qualified candidates winning elections and giving good stewardship to foster development.
In the same vein, the Gubernatorial standard bearer of the All Grand Alliance Party, AGAP Hon. Faye Ofori Bob – Manuel has also condemned violence during election as well as vote-buying.
Bob – Manuel made the condemnation while speaking as a guest panelist at the just concluded RIPIND programme, calling on women to stand up for free and fair election to usher in good leadership.
