NIGERIA: Mrs. Sylva's Magic Wand Of Unifying Bayelsa Women For Peace In Niger Delta

Date: 
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Source: 
Leadership Nigeria
Countries: 
Africa
Western Africa
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Participation

With the three administrations of Governor D.S.P Alameiseigha, Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Timipre Sylva, many Bayelsa women and youths seems to have continued to count their blessings in terms of mobilisation, empowerment and political development.

The symbols of blessings according to many of the women folks revolves round the wives of the State Chief Executive Officers. From Magareth Alameiseigha to Mrs. Alayingi Sylva, the commitment has been that of sharing and putting smiles on the faces of women in the state.

While many of the women in positions of power and those in the rural areas continue to hail the various empowerment initiatives of past first ladies, the initiative of the Wife of the incumbent Governor, Mrs.Alayingi Sylva has expanded the scope as she effectively engage in open advocacy and awareness campaign on health related issues, politics and participation of women in ensuring the peace process initiated by President, Alhaji Musa Yar'dua.

At the last count, in accordance with the record provided by the state ministry of health, the advocacy campaign on health and Cancer related issues have led to the treatment of over 5,000 women in various rural communities of the state.

Many of the benefiting women were however shocked that the advocacy campaign is not limited to the issue of Cancer but that within the last 18 months of the present administration over 1,000 children and women have also participated in eye care programmes meant to correct eye sight deficit.

In the comments of her Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Winifred Richard-Igiri, the decision of her boss to throw herself into finding solution to the plight of women in the state was an action that has drawn more women out to support and ensure the success of the various programmes embarked upon.

In one of the programs launched, the Bayelsa First lady was mobbed by a crowd of well wishers of rural women. Most of the women re-lived various experiences in the past where their tears were turned to smiles of joy.

Mrs. Alayingi however has never hidden her desire to use the stay of her husband in position as Governor for the benefit of women, youths and men equally. She told a group of women known as the Ogbia Women Forum last year that she has a burning desire to move women in the state to a greater height.

In her submission, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva assured the women that she would pursue issues relating to them with increased vigour. But she also gave a condition that the women must close ranks and work together for their collective benefit," because healthy women will be in a better position to pursue economic activities as against those with health issues".

The President of the forum of Ogbia Women, Mrs. Immaculate Amaseimogha, agreed and the marriage for women empowerment grew. With the poor scenario of low health care for women in the state capital and the rural areas improved with the vigorous health awareness campaign, the office of the First lady and the Ministry of health embarked on capacity building for health practitioners with over 450 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) benefiting and equipped to reduce maternal deaths.

For the First Lady, the performance of the State in area of campaign against the dreaded HIV/AIDS scourge is not in doubt but "there should be review of family values and youth education should include the sustenance of Anti-HIV/AIDS Clubs in secondary schools across the state".

Mrs. Sylva, while addressing principals and heads of schools in Ogbia Town , Bayelsa West Senatorial District, said though she initiated the Bayelsa Stay Alive Initiative (BASAI) programme last year to create awareness on the HIV/AIDS scourge, the youths should also be incorporated in the fight against HIV/AIDS especially as they are the most vulnerable group.

Mrs. Sylva presented HIV/AIDS educational materials to the principals and the club members and urged them to share their knowledge not just with other students but with everybody they came in contact with.
As a mother and with a passion for the issue of cancer prevention and detection, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva in December became the cynosure of all eyes with the Foundation Laying ceremony of the Mother and Child clinic/cancer centre in the state capital.

She told a crowd of dignitaries that included the Wife of the President, Hajia Turai Yar'dua, the Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and other women from within and outside the state, that ‘the children being the most vulnerable segment of the society need all the care and attention to make them good and fruitful citizens of our great country. The centre is to articulate and sufficiently address all health challenges of the woman and her child and provide gender health information centre for the Bayelsa citizenry".

She pointed out that the motivation behind her actions and support for women in the state was the words of advice and challenge handed them during one of the Governors Wives' forum by the Wife of the President, Hajia Turai Yar'dua that they should hold unto the UNFPA slogan" No woman should die giving birth"

Mrs. Sylva insisted that while her efforts and that of other women moves towards eradicating poverty in the state by empowering the women through constructive awareness and practical intervention program and projects, it has become necessary to install appropriate infrastructures that will enable healthy women contribute actively in adding value to the general growth of the economy.

Political observers and Non-Governmental groups saw the emergence of Governor Sylva and the proactive nature of the Wife in the last 18 months as being beneficial and progressive. According to the Action Congress (AC) Secretary in the State, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina, the actions of the Wife of the Governor is "captivating."

When the State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva later announced the nomination of Seven Women as Caretaker Chairpersons of the vacant Local Government Councils in the state, many were not shocked due to the proactive engagement of women folk by the first lady. The systematic awareness campaign has even led to the 2008 disbursement of soft loan scheme through a partnership initiated between the offices her first lady and a bank.

Governor Sylva pointed out that with the actions and engagement campaign of his wife; the women in the state have shown their capability in all areas including politics. He said these and other things led to the appointment of women as caretaker Committee Chairpersons.

On the issue of how women would be able to assist in the area of resolving the contentious issues within the Niger Delta region with Bayelsa as an example to the direction of the President, the visit of the Wife of the President to commission the Peace centre known as the Hajia Yar'dua Peace Centre was a clear opportunity for Bayelsa women to present a position through the first lady.

In her comment at the occasion held under a carnival-like environment, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva said the initiative of the inclusion of women is a beginning of a new dawn," It is in your knowledge that the capabilities of women in resolving conflicts have been grossly ignored over the millennia. Women have been absent in peace building process in Nigeria and yet it is one primary duty, call or service they must fulfill, to take custody, transmit and sustain peace in human culture from generation to generation."

She noted that there can be no development without peace," the task of managing conflict and rebuilding societies should no longer be the exclusive preserve of men, if we must achieve a nation and state free of conflict. What gives me confidence today is that Bayelsa women are themselves more engaged that ever in taking hold of their own destiny and finding solutions to their numerous socio-economic and health challenges."

Her position was re-echoed by the State Commissioner for Gender and Social Development, Miss Dora Oru with a call for the nation and the world to allow women in the state to show case their capabilities at resolving the crisis at hand and sustain the rising peace in the region," irrespective of the meager resources of the state and those available to women, we are battle ready against violence"

In her response, the Wife of the President threw her weight behind the show of readiness by Bayelsa women. She said she is ready to do anything humanly possible to encourage any peace initiative in Nigeria or other parts of the African continent."

The State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee headed by Chief James Jephthat however commended the decision of the Wife of the President to open the Peace Mission office in the state and the call on the Federal Government to include more women in the implementation of the peace plan in the region would further entrenched efforts at sustaining the existing peace in the state.

Chief Jephthah, who spoke through the committee Media Officer, Mr. Alphine Ogoh said the committee is highly delighted that the peace plan of the President as promoted and entrenched in the state by the Governor Timipre Sylva is also becoming a shining robe of the women folk.

He said the proposed efforts of the Peace Mission in the state and the entire Niger Delta region would be supported by all in view of the last commitment secured by the Committee from the Militant camps in the state to advance issues of peace in the region," it is a welcomed development and we have through various efforts shown that the inclusion of women would go a long way to correct some existing defects within the family unit before exposing the child to aggressive acts."

He said past experience of the Committee in resolving crisis among communities and Oil companies within the state showed that the women were actually part of the sucess story achieved in the sustained peace that is gradually yielding fruit for the people of the state.

These are commendable projects and it will be of immense benefit to Bayelsans at boosting the health status of the women and children as well as combating the issues of teenage pregnancy and involvement of youths in criminal acts."

With the support of the Wife of the President, Hajia Turai Yar'dua, her husband, Governor Timipre Sylva and the hundreds of women at the occasion, the Bayelsa First lady have kick started the campaign for the involvement of women in the peace process.At the meeting with Widows in Odi Community of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva charged women of the state to always take the lead and act as peace makers.She told the over 160 widows at the town hall venue to educate their wards and children on the need to embrace dialogue as a means of resolving problems.

She noted that women bear the brunt during situations such as which occurred at Odi some years back adding the pain of loosing a love one can never be overcome." Please participate actively in activities and projects that will improve the socio economic development of the community and place their trust in the Lord as He is able to heal all wounds".