Avoid Violence, Support the Army –Igbo Group Charges
Igbos in Nigeria Movement has urged the people of the south-east states to be discerning in their choices in the general elections saying that strategies that have failed the region in the past must not be repeated again since they will yield the exact same results.
The movement, which spoke through its President, Maxi Ifeanyi Igwe in Abuja on Friday also urged Igbos to cooperate with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in ensuring that the elections are not hijacked by thugs that hide under agitation to foment trouble.
Igwe called on Igbos to disregard the call by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for the boycott of the elections even as he noted that such demand can only be made by someone that is interested in getting the Igbos to be labelled as anti-democratic elements that did not support the entrenchment of democracy.
He stressed that “The Igbo states, being peaceful, would not have needed the Army’s nationwide Operation Python Dance had IPOB and other divisive elements not engaged in a needless sabre-rattling that created the impression that war is afoot. But this is not who we are in Igboland, we are pro-democracy any day and we will not allow history to misjudge us as a people because of a few recalcitrant renegades.
“Every other geo-political zone has been agitating for restructuring and what we have seen them doing is getting candidates across the spectrum to commit to pursuing this agenda. The people of these other geo-political zones have in essence made a strong statement that the agitation for true fiscal federalism will pick up pace once they have elected candidates that are favourably disposed to restructuring.
“The south-east cannot, in this sense, be different by trying to achieve the same objective through violence and calling for the disintegration of the country as IPOB and Kanu are doing. The region must also not make itself unnecessary enemies by being abusive of other ethnic nationals and directing hate speech against them as we have seen from Kanu since he resurfaced from hiding,” he noted.
Igbos in Nigeria Movement’s president counselled against bloc support while asking that Igbos should freely vote for candidates of their choice without feeling coerced. According to him,
“Past experience has shown that Igbos are singled out for undesirable special treatment each time they vote as a bloc for a candidate, something that the other ethnic nationalities do not do. Other geo-political zones allow their people to vote for candidates of their choice, which ensures that whoever emerges the winner will not feel than an entire geo-political zone or ethnic group voted against them.
“This is why we advise those creating the false impression that the entire Igbo nation has endorsed any one particular candidate to desist from the unwholesome act as it would be unfair for them to set up the entire south-east for victimization when a wrongly endorsed candidate loses the election as happened in the past.
“We also urge our people to shun violence and other political actions that inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria. This appeal becomes necessary given the worsening instances of threats and counter threats that politicians are issuing against each other. Our people need to read between the lines and appreciate that the ancestral homes of these candidates and cities where they have huge business investments will at no time record political violence even if we allow impassioned support for the them to ignite Igboland.
“Not only must the people refrain from violence we urge our people in Igboland to support the Nigerian Army and all security agencies that have deployed to maintain the peace during the elections. The support to the army and other agencies is to ensure that thugs that have been hired to unleash violence on the political opponents of their paymasters do not succeed. The people must also be careful of the incitement from IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is now clearly acting out a script that does not accommodate the interest of the Igbos,” Igwe charged.
Don’t Dare The Strength of Nigerian Army, Yoruba Monarch Cautions IPOB
A traditional ruler in Osun has called on a group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kula threatening to cause crisis in the eastern party of the country to desist from daring the strength of the Nigerian Army as the general elections for 2019 get closer.
This was disclosed during a press conference by Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama ,Tegbosun III with newsmen held at the palace of the royal father, Kuta Osun State.
The Oba described the Nigerian Armed Forces as an institution above ethno-political and religious ills adding that Nigerians should learn to show respect to the soldiers.
The traditional ruler appealed to political parties going to the poll on February 16 and March 2, 2019 to stop politicizing security issues being addressed by the Nigerian armed forces with politics in the interest of their parties in order to gain political mileage .
He also appluaded the troops stressing that “I can not but award a credit mark to our armed forces their journey so far in taming the hydra-headed monster known as Boko Haram terrorists’ “Our troops need our individual support and concerted support through prayers and positive comments” explaining that “A situation whereby their efforts are greeted with scornful remarks would naturally kill their morals and also incapacitate their spirit to fight and get desired results”.
The traditional leader further urged his counterparts in the eastern part of the country to live up to their fatherly role and advice Nnamdi Kalu and his IPOB members to stop their unlawful activities against the Nigerian state saying” His regular inflammatory statements against the country are not needed at this critical time of our national life”.
The Yoruba monarch said traditional rulers in the south-east should let Nnamdi Kalu see reasons to stop his call for boycott of the election as a huge disservice to the people of the southern region and an effort to provoke the country.
Zero Tolerance Day – YNCSD promotes active participation of young people in the elimination of FGM/C in Nigeria
By Nnamdi Eseme
As the world commemorates the Zero Tolerance Day, the Youth Network for Community and Sustainable Development (YNCSD) joins the rest of the world to restate it’s committed to engaging young people as change makers to support the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Nigeria. The engagement of young people is vital in discussions as the issue borders on key global concerns such as human rights, gender based violence and young people’s sexual and reproductive health.
What is FGM/C?
Female genital mutilation consists of the (partial or complete) removal of the external female genitalia, and the infliction of other injuries to the female genitalia for no medical reasons. There are several variations, including partial or complete removal of the clitoris, of the labia minora and majora, the narrowing of the vaginal opening by joining the two sides of the wound, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstrual fluids, and any other non-medical injury such as scraping, incising, pricking or burning. Female genital mutilation causes pain, infection, problems with sexual intercourse, problems with urination, problems with childbirth, and death.
Reports indicate that an estimated 19 million women in Nigeria have undergone FGM/C and 200 million women worldwide. A European Union forecast on the practice of FGM across 25 countries states that if the practice continues at the current pace, 68 million girls will be cut between 2015 and 2030 in 25 countries where FGM is routinely practiced and data available.
February 6 was unanimously adopted at the International Conference on Zero Tolerance to FGM organized by IAC from February 4 to 6, 2003 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Further, the UN Resolution A/RES/67/146 on FGM ”Intensifying global efforts to end FGM” adopted on 20 December 2012, confirmed February 6 as the International Tolerance Zero Day to FGM.
What does YNCSD do to address the issue?
YNCSD tackles FGM through robust advocacy and community engagement programmes in practicing communities. Our projects have applied innovative approaches such as social and behavioural change communications, engagement of non-SRHR allied professionals and community-based anti-FGM champions, led by young people to learn, unlearn and relearn harmful social norms. Furthermore, creating dialogue sessions with communities using an approach is open and non-judgmental have proven to lead to positive attitudinal shifts in communities where we have worked in. Our efforts also improved access to support for survivors and capacity building of practitioners.
Sharing knowledge through advocacy and communications
Estimates show that there may be as many as 200 million victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide, including at least 19 million in Nigeria. YNCSD continues to conduct research and disseminate findings (resources can be found on our website) to members of the public about the potential harm associated with the practice. In 2017, under our TSON I project funded by Amplify Change, we focused on transforming social norms through advocacy and communications across 4 states in Nigeria. The project saw the engagement of the Circumcissers Association of Nigeria as well as Religious leaders as key influencers to end the practice. In 2018, in partnership with Orchid Project and with support from Amplify Change, we conducted a Knowledge Sharing Workshop for organisations working on ending FGM/C in Nigeria. The Knowledge Sharing Workshop is based upon the ‘six elements for the abandonment of FGC’ developed by UNICEF using academic theory and lessons learned from such field experiences as Tostan in Senegal. These six key elements can contribute to transforming the social convention of cutting girls and encourage rapid and mass abandonment of the practice. An underlying theme is application and the workshop concluded with how learning may be adopted and used within the activities of participating organizations. Deliverables of the workshop included:
• To promote the concept of non-judgemental open dialogue in advocacy and community mobilisation targeted at addressing social norms underpinning female genital mutilation/cutting.
• To share knowledge on best practices and create safe spaces for survivors to tell their stories and be at the forefront in speaking against the practice of FGM/C I their communities.
• To develop the capacity of organisations working on FGM/C in communications and knowledge sharing.
Scaling up advocacy
Prevention of FGM is essential and largely depends on the existence of policies guiding behavior and practices. Just recently, we launched the TSON II project which will focus transforming social norms that underpin the continued practice of FGM/C in 4 states in Nigeria. To achieve this; the project will work closely with traditional rulers and influential religious leaders, young people and the traditional cutters themselves to change norms, attitudes and expectations at the community level towards ending FGM/C. The Project will work with Ministries of Education across the four states to advocate for the inclusion of FGM/C into state education curriculum. For states where this has already been included, advocacy efforts will be targeted at implementation of the curriculum as well as building capacity of school teachers on the subject matter.
What happens next?
The Youth Network for Community and Sustainable Development will continue to work with partner, key linkages and stakeholders to ensure the abandonment of female genital mutilation. We are also setting up a social media interactive site where we can share best practices, ask and address questions and disseminate findings based on research conducted. We also commit to working with boys and men via awareness raising campaigns and promoting the dissemination and interpretation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibitions (VAPP) Act 2015 to key agencies and CBOs.
Eseme is Senior Technical Adviser, YNCSD
