Ralph Adekunle
7 October 2008
Ado-Ekiti — Thousands of women in Ekiti State yesterday protested against the delay in the conduct of the local government elections in the state, saying they would go nude next Monday in further protests if the situation is not addressed.
All the women from the 16 local government councils in the state, dressed in white attires walked barefooted, storming the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex. Led by Sango worshippers with palm fronds and several other instruments of Sango worship, they condemned the delay of the grassroots election. The women who went on a peaceful protest, sprinkled several bags of salt on the floor of the Assembly as they expressed anger and total disapproval for the inability of the state to conduct the councils elections.
Answering questions from newsmen, Mrs Dupe Ayorinde (Iya Onisango), head of the Sango worshippers from Emure-Ekiti and Mrs Abiola Ayeni, expressed displeasure with the attitude of the lawmakers for not allowing the council polls to take place since the inception of the present administration. The women noted their disappointment with the lawmakers, the state government and other relevant government bodies which failed to organise the election
The women told reporters that they had spoken with the Speaker, Mr. Olatunji Odeyeymi, and gave him an ultimatum which would expire Friday, to give a definite date for the election.
They warned that if by Friday no definite day is given, they would mobilize next Monday to stage a more dangerous protest. Mrs. Ayorinde noted that all the protesters would appear naked, or put on black attires and curse those behind the frustration on the election.
The worshippers said their action was not political or from any political party but to reduce the hardships facing the masses of the state. Reacting to the development, the Speaker, Olatunji Odeyemi pointed out that there was nothing new in a protest, but a way to register their minds against the happenings in the state. The speaker said everyone has the right to protest, saying what the women were protesting against was a public issue which he said must not be wished away.
"They came to bare their minds over the conduct of the council poll, especially the constitution of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), and we told them that in the next one week everything would be over,"
Odeyemi said the House had its master plan already, and had met with the clerk and deliberated extensively on the SIEC issue. He opined that the major problem facing the Assembly on the SIEC bill was a court action against the Assembly by the leadership of the National Conscience Party (NCP), saying the legal action was a mere writ of summon.
The Speaker assured the public that all outstanding issues on the conduct of the election would be resolved soon, saying the public should remain calm and allow the House to carry out its legislative duties.
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