| Day Ijaw women united
to end crisis in the Niger Delta
By BROWN CHIMEZIE
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
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Joseph Evah, Ijaw Leader
• PHOTO: Sun News Publishing
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Easter Monday marked the beginning of a new dawn in the lives
of Ijaw women in Nigeria and the Diaspora. That day, members
of Ijaw Women Leadership Forum, which comprises over 138 women
groups, converge on the Navy Barracks Play Ground, Apapa to
celebrate their first anniversary, launch almanac and canvass
development of the Niger Delta.
At the event, Comrade Joseph Eva, founder of the Forum, traced
the origin of the association to the desire of the Ijaw women
to have a platform on which to present to the world their
plights and that of their children in the oil rich Niger Delta
region.
He said: "As mothers, these women won’t fold their
hands and watch the oil companies abuse and pollute the environment,
thereby cutting off the people from their source of livelihood."
While praising the women groups for being the bridge linking
all Ijaw women in Nigeria and the Diaspora, Eva said: "You
women unite and speak with one voice and what you have done
so far is wonderful".
In the same vein, Minister of Special Duties, Chief Orubebe,
who represents the Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, commended
the women for coming together to present a common agenda,
assuring them of government attention.
In response to a cry of lack of development of the Niger Delta
region, Orubebe reminded them of the Yar’Adua’s
government resolve to develop the region. He calls on the
leadership of the forum to be peaceful as its goes about its
activities.
In her contribution, ex-beauty queen and president, Crystal
Izon Ladies Association (CILA), Ms Rose Samayin, commended
Eva for midwiving the forum and his support for Ijaw women.
In her word: "Today is the happiest day in my life, and
the day Ijaw women took their destinies in their hands."
She assured the minister that the association is a peace loving
and believes in dialogue, as the best way towards conflict
resolution.
Speaking on behalf of the non indigenes, Mr. Dickson Okafor,
the national co-ordinator, Youth Empowerment and Leadership
Foundation (YELF), praised the women and Eva for giving Ijaw
women a voice.
He advised the forum to reach out to other tribes and the
ethnic groups, as the struggle to develop Niger Delta is a
collective one because of its economic importance, and such
place can not be neglected. Okafor also warn those benefiting
from the Niger Delta crisis to desist from such action.
He call on those who truly love and desire to liberate the
people in the region to dialogue with government, adding that
this will end the crisis in the region.
Highlight of the event was the launch of the almanac and Ijaw
war dance led by Eva. Awards were also presented to deserving
persons and organisations.
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