The uncertainty and protests that have trailed Saturday’s rerun governorship election in Ekiti State took another dimension on Wednesday, as a group of women clad in white attires protested round Ado-Ekiti, half-dressed. - By Akin Oyedele
Some half naked Ekiti women protesting against the political logjam in the state
Tagged, “Peace rally in support of democracy in Nigeria,” the protesters gathered under the aegis of Ekiti Women for Peace and Development.
They were led by a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Chief Ronke Okusanya, while the deputy governorship candidate of the Action Congress, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka and wife of the governorship candidate, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, joined the procession.
More than 300 women, comprising the young and the elderly, took part in the protest over the delay in announcing the governorship candidate of the AC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the winner of the governorship election.
As early as 8am, the protesters had begun to mass at the popular Fajuyi Park in their tens from parts of the state, which grew into a crowd by 10am when the protest march began.
While more than 20 elderly women among the group, whose ages ranged between 60 and 80 years went half-dressed, the youths protested with their clothes on.
The procession moved from Fajuyi to Oke-Iyinmi roundabout and later to the AC secretariat in Ajilosun, with the police following them to prevent the rally from being hijacked.
The protesters, who sang anti-Peoples Democratic Party’s songs and chorused “Eeye o” waved white handkerchiefs to onlookers who cheered them on.
Some of the placards hoisted by the women read, “VP Jonathan, stop your imposition on Ekiti rerun; Prof. Iwu, fear God; Fayemi won the election, INEC no magomago; Iwu be warned; Ayoka Adebayo, heroine of democracy.”
At the Oke-Iyinmi roundabout, 10 of the half-dressed women caused a stir when they formed a separate group to perform a rite, in which they were heard appeasing the gods of the land.
While the rite lasted, the women rained curses on all anti-democratic forces and those disrupting the peace of the state.
The convener of the rally, Okusanya, said that the women decided to add their voice to the ding-dong that had become the lot of the governorship rerun since Saturday when the election was held.
Okusanya, who is also the woman leader of the AC in the state, said that the women were AC members drawn across the state and concerned senior citizens who were fed up with the antics of INEC.
Having allegedly collated the results of the rerun, she said that the embattled Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Olusola Adebayo, should be allowed to complete the assignment by announcing the winner.
She said, “Non-release of the result is an ingredient for chaos and violence. The women of Ekiti are in full support of Adebayo to be allowed an unfettered atmosphere to do her job.”
OMG, I've never seen this before in Nigeria. These women are obviously very angry. There's a lot of craziness going on in Ekiti State, I just hope their protest yields some positive results...but most unlikely huh?
I hear Action Congress is already demanding the resignation of our President, Musa Yar'adua, the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro and the INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu. But we all know that's wishful thinking.
May God intervene...
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