8.3 C
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Opinion: Women Demand Violence-Free Election

Must read

by Grace Essen

I went to a local market recently and there on one of the pathways was a little boy of about 2 years crying right in front of the stall I was about to enter to purchase some items.

“Why is the boy crying?” I asked two women sitting and ‘gisting,’ obviously ignoring the boy, suspecting that one of them might be the mother. “Don’t mind him, he needs a younger one so he can stop seeking for unnecessary attention,” Was the response from one of the women which the other echoed. “Then give him a younger one now,” I said jokingly. “Ah! With the elections coming?! No, not until after the elections O! We have to know where we are, who wants to run with pregnancy or with a small baby in her arms? When all the politicians have sent their wives and children abroad!” Hilarious. But that is the pulse of the market woman, the typical woman on the street.

It all seems some people are somewhat preparing to take off than preparing to go out and vote. That, I think is a serious threat to the success of the coming election. But can we blame them? With hundreds of thousands of IDPs scattered in various camps within and outside Nigeria, and many unaccounted for; and with the news of innocent souls, mostly women and children being slaughtered or abducted in Baga, Gwoza, Chibok, Mubi, Burnin Yadi, Madalla, Damaturu, Gombe, Kano, Jos and the rest on TV everyday, when there is no “tension”, what then will happen when there is supposedly a cause for tension – electing a new president at a time when violence seems to be the order of the day, in a country where as far as elections are concerned, “It is either my candidate or the highway?”

To make matters worse, attacks and counter attacks from candidates and their supporters in the media have negative effects on women and young people. If only our politicians know to what extent, they will be a bit more mindful of their utterances. So, the only thing left for poor and defenceless women and children whose husbands and fathers cannot afford to “send abroad” for safety, is to run home – to their hometowns.

Ironically ‘home’ is still within Nigeria; I guess that means there is really no where to run! A workshop held recently, where all presidential candidates were made to sign an accord to shun violence before, during and after the general elections which they must abide by. Excellent! The question now is, how far can this peace accord take us? Is it enough to bring some calm to our already anxious minds? Is it enough to give us some assurances of a violence-free election?

President Goodluck Jonathan took his campaign to the North and on two occasions he was allegedly attacked. So, where does that leave us? Back to square one? I think that as a nation, we usually solve problems facing us by putting together workshops, or setting up committees, bringing under one roof distinguished personalities, some whose views are respected all over the world, to discuss the issues, not a bad idea.

But we often fail to take the message or solution beyond the walls of the conference halls of the five star hotels to the streets, to the nooks and crannies of our towns and villages, to the very people who need to hear the messages.

Who takes to the street to carry out acts of violence? Not you and I who read newspapers and listen to news everyday, neither is it the candidates themselves nor their immediate supporters, it is the restless and of course jobless youths who don’t even have the slightest idea a peace accord exists. How about setting up more campaigns to sensitive the general public on the consequences of violence before, during and after elections? Can our Pastors and Imams alike preach it to their followers? The candidates can also do us a ‘favour’ and lace the potpourri of their campaign messages with some doses of “If I do not get the position, we will accept defeat” or “We will head to court and NOT take to the streets.”

It’s not pessimism; it’s having the interest of the country at heart. In demanding for a violencefree election, we women have some vital roles to play. We have to encourage our husbands to honourably accept defeat if they loose in the election. We must see to it that our children (who are usually instruments for carrying out violence) are not available for use. Instead they will do well to go out and vote, and then stand and make sure their votes count. Do you remember Frank Olize’s call those days at the beginning of Newsline on NTA on Sunday evenings: “Good evening viewers, its nine o’clock…

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?”

If we all can look out for our children before, during and after election, and also tell our fellow mothers to do same, there won’t be anyone on the street for use for any manner of violence.

Grace Essien is a life and performance coach for moms, a consultant, a counselor and a columnist. She can be reached on [email protected]

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

More articles

- Advertisement -The Fast Track to Earning Income as a Publisher
- Advertisement -The Fast Track to Earning Income as a Publisher
- Advertisement -Top 20 Blogs Lifestyle

Latest article