There are times, such as now, when it becomes necessary to interrogate the collective position of women in positions of influence and authority in Nigeria. As the body count continues to rise in the North East, the latest focus of the murdering Boko Haram sect on innocent children and young girls I am forced to ask, “Where are the women?”
It has become critical to ask because if I, as the former National Woman Leader for the Action Congress of Nigeria and member of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) cannot answer this question, then it is likely that millions of Nigerians are also searching for answers.
Almost two weeks after news reports broke out about the abduction of 20 young girls from a local college in Borno and close to week after the systematically planned and executed massacre of children of FGGC BunuYadi, in Yobe, there has been no official statement from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development. There has been nothing from the First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan. There has been complete silence where any of the first ladies of the 36 states and the FCT are concerned. Most tellingly, there has not been a peep from the so-called umbrella body of all women Associations, NCWS.
No cry of commiseration, no condemnation, no outrage to call the attention of the Federal Government and the security agencies to the tragic and unfortunate incident that has become a daily occurrence. Nothing to indicate awareness of what is happening with our fellow women and their children, our future, who are being killed and abducted in the North East of Nigeria every day.
It is a shame that our so called women who are in leadership positions have decided to keep mute and stay in the comfort of their homes and offices because they are surrounded by the various security outfit. Are we all blind to what is happening to the women and children in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States? Or are we only interested in mobilizing women for various political jamborees? Just recently, the National President of NCWS was seen supporting the ex-minister Stella Oduah during the scandal of the aviation ministry, even, to our embarrassment, protesting in a show of support for the former aviation minister’s illegal purchase of armored BMW cars.
We are losing women and children daily but the NCWS President is yet to make a statement or mobilize fellow women to protest these barbaric killings. All over the world, leading any organization comes with responsibility and deep compassion and commitment for one’s constituency but we do not see that with women in public office in Nigeria.
However, all said and done, charity begins at home and I save my most heartfelt disappointment and bitterness for the Vice President’s wife, HajiyaAminaSambo and the wives of governors from the northern states. None of these women have considered it their duty to visit any of these states and commiserate with their fellow first ladies (Yobe, Adamwawa and Borno) talk less of actually visiting families suffering loss, displacement and deprivation from the war that has been visited upon them.
On every issue that is vital to women and young girls in this country, our first ladies and women in government (ministers, legislators etc.) are silent. The violence against persons bill is still languishing in the National Assembly, the incidence of rape is on the increase, even of little children as young as 3 and still no word from them. What we need to see is the First Lady of Nigeria leading women in government and other Nigerians to the National Assembly and then sending a strong delegation to the affected states with relief materials for the traumatized women and children and the grieving fathers who are all citizens of Nigerians and deserving of attention and care. Enough of dancing and praise singing, it is time to show solidarity, concern and affection for the plight of women and children in the North-east.
Baba is the coordinator of Global Initiative for Women and Children in Kaduna
