BIAFRAN WOMEN IN THE CURRENT RESTORATION DISPENSATION

By Ama Chukwugoziem (Abia writers)
Edited by Livingrich Ezeikpe
Women face varieties of constraints, many of which are gender specific, and demonstrated by the lowest human development Indicators in health, nutrition, maternal mortality, fertility and education.
On September 17, 2018, the Biafran women demonstrated their doggedness towards the restoration of Biafra efforts. They staged a peaceful rally in Owerri province of Biafraland with placards demanding the Nigerian government and the army to release their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his parents, Eze and Lolo Sir Isreal O. Kanu, who, disappeared during the military invasion of their home in Isiama, Afaraukwu, Ibeku, in Umuahia province of Biafran land on the 14th day of September 2018.

According to Radio Biafra Middle East, over 300 women were arrested and detained by the Nigerian Islamic police, while scores got various degrees of injury. The question now is, is self-determination a crime? Self-determination is legitimate all over the world. Why is the case of the country called Nigeria a different thing? - No freedom of association, no freedom of religion and worship etc. Human right is not respected, not to talk of women’s right. In most advanced and democratic countries of the world, there is what is called women right even to the extent of animal rights.

We can recall that the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) once staged such peaceful rallies demanding for the release of the leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was in the DSS dungeon. The Buhari administration ordered a crackdown on unarmed and defenseless members of IPOB, and many lost their lives in the process, while Nigerians and the cabals cheered and jeered; that has been our lot in the hands Buhari.

Biafran women viewed that everything is destroyed in Nigeria- lives, property, hopes, dreams, visions and values and decided to request for their rights. One constant factor Biafran women have had contented with Nigeria is the tokenistic appointment handed out to them. Yet the chant 'beside every successful man there is a woman' is also one of the reasons why the women in affirmative action did stage a peaceful rally that the restoration of Biafra is not only 'men's Affairs'.

In 1999, the women of Choba in Igweocha (Rivers state) suffered the most notorious human rights abuse when the Nigerian Islamic army unleashed destruction, killing and rape of women in broad daylight. In Odi, in Bayelsa state, women and children suffered enormous hardship; many were killed by military retaliation. It is evident from the above that the road to gender equity and justice is still very vast of the Biafran women.

To our Biafran women, I must caution that in this journey of self-determination, we may go through rough roads, encounter mountains of despair, there may be periods when our hopes may seem to turn into frustrations and bewilderment. No matter what happens on the way, we should never harbour an inkling of a defeatist attitude, rather our consolation should always be the ethereal optimism, which is our destination. In moments like these, we stay focused and are courageous. Our resolve must not be shaken bearing in mind that nothing of great value comes ordinarily. It is inescapably true that our fate lies in our hands.
Biafra