ENCOUNTER WITH A COMMUNITY LEADER

The campaign to Daki Biyu, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory was successful, but not without some challenges which were eventually tackled. First, there was a miscommunication concerning our meeting as we visited the community. We had sent out letters to the Village head informing him of our intension to sensitize women, including those living with disabilities on the forth coming-general Elections in Nigeria. The head of the community promised to discuss with the woman leader of the community. Before we went there, I sent a reminder and even requested to meet with the woman leader, but I was assured not to worry as the message would be passed across to her and there will be no hitches. The community chose a date for the visit and it was communicated to us.

The day of the meeting arrived and we put a call across to confirm if there were any concerns, but were told that there were no issues. We got to the venue. But alas! It was empty. No woman was present, not even a single community leader. I was left shocked, wondering where we got it wrong. I had followed all the protocols they put in place to ensure that the event was a hitch free one. I stood quiet for a while, thinking of my next move. Then I decided, “I can’t give up on this”.

I requested to see the community head. He was not around. He had told his son to attend to us. I requested to see his wife and was granted access to her. I explained everything to her. She understood our predicament and immediately went into action, putting a call across to the woman leader who also swung into action and before long women started trooping in from every angle. The zeal and passion with which they came was so impressive and heartwarming. Just how efficient this woman was even in the shortest period of time was fascinating.

PLOTTING A COUP

 “We do not want anybody to come here and lie to us or to our women whenever elections were around the corner, we will not allow it”, said the community head of Daki Biyu.

He had returned while we were having our discussions on the importance of women being active participants in the coming elections and in politics generally. Apparently, he only heard a portion of our conversation and decided to draw up his conclusions on the event which was holding in his palace.

He was actually surprised by the turn out and felt the women were plotting a coup. He had to confront us. He was vehement in his approach, telling us that they will not accept any political party that is deceptive, misleading his community, cajoling them into selling their vote and later on dump them. He questioned our coming, even after the letters we had sent, the motive behind the involvement of only women in our advocacy and why we were telling them to ensure they registered for the elections. He asked what was so special about this particular election and why it will be different from previous ones. He could not hide his feelings as he thought it was a tactic to sway women into overpowering the men.

As he spoke, I kept a smile on my face and nodded ones or twice affirming some of the things he was saying. We gave him time to express himself and purge his heart of perhaps a burden that had disturbed him for some time. We waited patiently until he was done talking.

I thanked him and assured him that all he said was important and noted. I then made him understand that we were not a political organization and were not campaigning for any political party or individual. I reminded him of how he had said that they were tired of politicians coming to lie to them and needed a change, telling him that women were needed to contribute in causing that required change as our contributions mattered a lot.

LEGISLATIVE POSITION

We have the numbers, as more women registered during the latest ‘Continuous Voters Registration’ than men. Women had over 6.2 million as against the just over 6 Million men who had registered. I asked him to imagine the impact it can make if all women turned up to actually vote.

I understood his frustration. It has been quiet a bumpy ride for the whole country. The economy is bad; the security is at its lowest ever. The universities are closed for over 6 months and just so many issues. His frustrations were very genuine and understandably so.

I asked him to envision a situation where any of his daughters becomes part of the people who make policies for the country, how meaningful her contribution will be in ensuring that her parents, siblings and the entire community are well represented and not left out if she holds a legislative position. How she will be able to see that women were respected and given the opportunity to take responsibilities for championing the wellbeing and welfare of others just as they do at home.

I explained to him that it was time for women’s voices to be heard and policies that affect women positively to be made, not to dominate men, but to also contribute in making impact that will ultimately transform the country.

At this point, he let out a smile and said we were lucky we did not come to instigate his women against men. Everyone laugh and the event which started on a seemingly challenging note, ended happily.