ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Wives of first-class traditional rulers in Bayelsa State, human rights crusaders and other key stakeholders involved in the advocacy for the protection of women against violence have staged a road walk in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, to declare support for the show of commitment by the state government against gender-based violence in the state.
The road walk, which began from the popular Ekeki park to the state secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), witnessed an open declaration of support for Governor Douye Diri.
They asserted that Diri had shown commitment towards the protection of women and the girl child through the setting up of the Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) led by Barrister Dise Ogbise.
The monarchs’ wives, under the aegis of Traditional Rulers Wives Association, led by Her Royal Majesty, Queen Josephine Diette-Spiff, represented by its Secretary, Queen Tecy Diongoli, participated in the road walk organized by GRIT as part of activities marking the 16 days activism against gender-based violence.
The road walk with the theme ‘Orange The World: End Violence Against Women Now!’, also, witnessed the participation of key stakeholders including the Association of Professional Women Engineers, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), The Ethan Rose Foundation, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The Chairperson of GRIT, Barr. Dise Ogbise, pointed out that the road walk with key stakeholders was the re-affirmation of the commitment of Governor Douye Diri towards putting an end to the incidents of gender-based violence.
Ogbise said despite the noticeable drop in the rate of gender-based violence in the state, there was the need for the people of the state to join hands with the state government to end to gender-based violence.
Also speaking, a member of the GRIT, Mrs Ann Obuebite, called for all hands to be on deck to fight violence against women and children, urging victims of violence to speak up so as to get urgent help.
State Chairman of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Gbanaibolou Oweife, observed that the years of violence against women and children had had psychological effects on the victims, assuring them that the medical association of Nigeria was committed to helping victims of abuse.
Earlier in their speeches, the President of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Wives Association, Her Majesty, Queen Josephine Diete-Spiff, represented by the Secretary, Her Royal Majesty, Tecy Diongoli and the Chairperson, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa State chapter, Pastor Felicia Afenfia, pledged their support towards eradicating all forms of violence against women and children.
They declared their commitment to the fight against gender-based violence with the open adoption of a 13-year-old victim of defilement who was abused by her father.