Azu,
I concur with you that our women should go ahead with
the planned action if it will take that to change the
political culture in Nigeria as they remain part of
the most beautiful creatures in the face of the earth.
I was not around during the colonial days but from my
understanding, colonialism disrupted the traditional
systems in indigenous Nigerian (and other African)
societies, reinforcing the existing systems of social
and political inequality and introducing oppressive
forms of social and political stratification
throughout the continent.
Unfortunately, many Africans as a whole are still
mentally colonized - forgetting the roles of our women
during the pre-colonial days and the importance of
their views. Since they are the "mothers of the
nation", our women should do whatever they feel they
have to do to be heard.
KC
Kelechi Eke
http://www.africansnetwork.com
------Original Message------
From: Azubike Aliche <zuliche@y...>
Date: Fri Jul 20, 2001 11:52 am
Subject: Re: [nigeriantalk] Nigerian party's women
threaten nude protest
KC,
I think the women should go ahead with the planned
action if it will take that to change the political
culture in Nigeria. Even in this democratic
dispensation, Nigeria is still ruled pretty much like
a police state. It is wrong to arrest women
legitimately protesting the presence, in a party
seminar, of somebody already suspended by the party,
as reported.
Protest is a legitimate weapon of political pressure
and political action in all democracies around the
world. Let's take into account that the women in
question are not the the women wing of the OPC or
MASSOB or any fringe group but members of the ruling
party protesting against members of their own party.
We should give them the benefit of doubt that they are
well meaning but disenchanted.
I'll tell you a recent experience to make the point
that political leaders in Nigeria and the law
enforcement agencies ought to show restraint when
dealing with people who hold opposing views, even when
those people are wrong.
On July 4, I went to Philadelphia to observe
activities marking the 225th independence anniversary
of the United States. Inspection of the Liberty bell
over, we waited around the Independence Hall for
President George W. Bush to come deliver a speech. All
of a sudden, a group of a few hundred people, mostly
youths, invaded the area carrying placards, some of
which read:"Thou shall not steal democracy", "Bush 5:
Democracy 4", "Democracy 1776-2000"; "Don't throw away
your vote, Let the Supreme Court do it for you". All
these, you know, refer to the disputed 2000
presidential election decided seven months ago. In
that Independence Hall area, there were the National
Park guards, members of the City of Philadelphia
police and a horde of secret service agents.Yet no one
disrupted the protest or arrested anybody. That is
what it should be in a democracy. This takes into
account that every democratic constitution guarantees
freedom of speech and lawful assembly to citizens.
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