WHEN WOMEN STOOD TO BE COUNTED

Being a Welcome Address Delivered by Pastor Suleiman, Joseph Manjoe, Coordinator, Ebira Renaissance Group (ERG) at 1^st Ebira Women Conference Held at the Civic Centre, Obangede on Saturday, 25^th October, 2014 (josephsuleiman8@gmail.com)

Courtesies………………

                                                                                                           

Pastor Manjoe delivering his speech

I consider myself very privileged to give this welcome address in this epoch making event, the First Ebira Women Conference when our dear mothers and sisters stood to be counted on the right side of history. You are by this conference standing to initiate the rebirth of Ebira nation via political re-engineering. You didn’t keep any of us in doubt as to your readiness to partner with us when we met last, on September 20, 2014 in Okene with your leadership. Now that you have broken your silence and passivity on the Ebira project, things can only get better for the land. On behalf of the Ebira Renaissance Group, I heartily welcome you to this important conference of Ebira Women.

Permit me to quote from the Holy Book as I delve into the kernel of this address “….in those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes”. (Judges 21:25). It looks to me as if we are passing through the same dispensation as it was with this people of the Holy Book at that point in their history. Politically, we have no rallying figure to give effect to our collective aspirations. Everybody is on his or her own and sends himself/herself into the political arena, to represent as it were, himself/herself, his cronies, his narrow ambition, visions and aspirations. To use the coinage of ERG Radio programme, we no longer have an “Abara” where we can discuss our family issues, and even where we have a semblance of an “Adabara” there is no “Abara” for him and consequently there is no “Owuda” that children can relate with before embarking on a political project.

Cross section of women at the event

This in summary is our political situation. Consequently, every manner of individual is in the field jostling for one political office or the other without recourse to the people he/she want to represent. The political parties too, mindful of this vacuum are not consulting with critical stakeholders in choosing their flag bearers. However, if they say we have no say in who emerge, as their flag bearers, our right to vote is still very much with us. We must let them know this.

Why This Conference is Convened

This is purely a political gathering. We are here to redefine how we play politics in Ebiraland. There are many definitions of politics, but the one I am in love with is that of American scholar, Harold Lasswell; “politics is who gets what, when and how”. This looks simplistic, yet loaded. Politics decides what you get and how much of it from the commonwealth. The educational, social and moral tone of the society at any given time is determined by the nature of the polity in a given society – power, status, food and shelter, influence and wealth, all flow from the fountain of politics. If politics affects the society this way, is it not foolhardy, therefore, to leave politics in the hands of politicians alone? And worse still, if politics is this way, is it not suicidal to leave it in the hands of the uncaring and those who are detached from the people at the grassroot?

You are called here to map out strategy(ies) to effectively influence those who will be in governance tomorrow and to ensure their responsiveness to the yearning of the people after they are elected.

You are called here to work to ensure that only those who have unblemished record of community service are elected into elective positions. I therefore, charge you my dear mothers and sisters, dare to represent our new thinking; our collective consciousness and the finest of what is left of our cherished values in your various wards/constituencies. Ozavize or do I hear you say, yes Ozohu ni? Resolve here to resist and reject parochial clannish inclination and cheap monetary manipulation. Dare to be the women of honour.

The Place of the Women

From the time of Adam in the Garden of Eden till now, women had always influenced the course of action of the men. They are the real power behind the power that the men exercise. They decide which of the children get into the vantage position for the father’s blessing. Children work hard to earn the mother’s blessing. Men acquire wealth to lavish it on the women; they acquire power to hand over to the woman to showcase on their behalf.  Today, women constitute the largest percentage of the voting population. No one can win an election without the women’s vote. These are just few of the numerous powers of the women.

This is the power you are called here to exercise positively for the good of your children. Your role should not only be to dance at party rallies but to decide who is credible enough to lead your children and to give them a secured future.

This conference should open a window of opportunity for the women of Ebiraland to organize themselves into a formidable force that should decide who gets the nod to lead us.

As I end this address, may I remind us of our resolution of 20^th September, 2014 when we met with your leaders. You will recall how we resolved that:

1.         All women voters should be mobilized to vote for credible candidates irrespective of political parties.

2.         Once the mission to elect credible leaders is accomplished, an “Adabara” and “Owuda” that Ebira is looking for will naturally emerge.

3.         ERG should act as a platform in our search for credible leaders.

4.         A political miracle is possible to flush out men of violence from Ebira politics. In this regard, fervent prayer is needed for a divine intervention.

5.         All those who were associated with our traumatic past should not be voted again unless they showed genuine remorse for the wrongs of yesterday.

6.         Those who are rumoured to be buying guns for election should be de-motivated by educating the youths to reject thuggery and violence in all forms/shades.

7.         Never again should we allow history to repeat itself; politics of house burning and mindless assassination should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

8.         Henceforth, we should insist that our votes count; we reject imposition by the right use of our voting power at the polls.

9.         Finally, ERG should organize a conference of all the women voters to give effect to the resolutions of the said meeting.

These lofty resolutions should proactively remain indelible in our minds and should be properly implemented by you the mothers of our society.

Conclusion

This conference should rise with a clear message to all political aspirants and their parties, what manner of leaders we desire. What manner of electioneering campaign we want. What manner of aspirant should earn our votes? And what character of a new society should emerge after the elections? This dream of a good society is a big one and may look impossible. But God is bigger than our dream – Let us expect a miracle of help from the limitless resources of God. He is waiting for us to ask for His intervention in the Ebira project. Even a child, the weakest in grace of His family, who can but whisper “father” is able to live his dream. History of the Holy Book is replete with women who stood for their people at critical time in the history of their people. Heaven stood with Mariam in the time of Moses when she mobilized the women on behalf of their people. Heaven stood with Deborah and Jael. Esther dared to thread the dangerous terrain for and on behalf of her people, heaven backed her up and great deliverance was wrought through her. The heroic actions of these women should inspire you all! Surely in the affairs of Ebira nation, time and heaven await our women to reenact this feat as it was with the Holy women of old. I pray heaven will back you up as you work and pray for a better future for our children. The future is now!

Once again you are welcome!