Say: Bloodbath increasing rate of widowhood
Women Rights Group on Wednesday trooped out enmasse to mark the International Women’s day in support of women who their husbands lost their lives as a result of skirmishes involving security agencies and Unknown Gunmen in Imo State.
It’s no longer news that for a while now, the state has been faced with lots of security challenges which resulted in casualties that led to many going to their graves early.
The event which involved a peaceful march by several civil society organizations and Women Right Group began from Freedom Square along Orlu road junction to Government House, Owerri.
The event offered the group opportunity to also condemn harmful practices against women.
Speaking to Journalists at the event, the Chairperson of Federation of Women lawyers, FIDA, Barr .Dame Chisara Egwim stated that widows are human beings and shouldn’t be subjected to any form of hardship in the name of culture and tradition because they lost their husbands.
Continuing, she affirmed that they are in total support of the protest, while calling out to the government to assist them.
Dame Chisara furthermore, told the women not to relent to call or visit their office situated at MCC road whenever the need arises with emphasis on Tuesdays and Thursdays by 2pm.
The coordinator Imo People’s Action For Democracy, IPAC, Mrs Marjorie Ezihe said that what Imo widows want is peace and are demanding that the State should oblige them their request.
Marjorie lamented that most of the deaths in the last few months were caused by insecurity challenges in the State which she said is heartbreaking as it has turned many women to emergency widows.
She stressed that they came out in solidarity to lend their voices against the ills happening in the State and to let the whole world know that they are not happy with the way widows are being treated.
She mentioned that they are waiting patiently for the government to look into their demands which is to call for a peaceful citizenship dialogue where they would be granted fair hearing.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ Imo State chairperson, Barr.Vivian Ottih who spoke to Journalists emphasized that the expected change should begin from the women folk.
She made it clear that it is one of the responsibilities of the association to give voice to the voiceless and ensure that things are not only done right but seen to have been done properly.
She promised that the present NAWOJ executive would do their best by showing a way out of this unacceptable practices women pass through.
Ottih stated emphatically that she is optimistic that the office of the First lady of Imo State which is responsible for taking care of women would do something about the plight and concerns raised by the widows.
