The hopes of thousands of women
mobilized for the flag-off of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in
Bayelsa state by Nigeria’s first lady,
Patience Jonathan, were dashed as they were
sent home with nothing yesterday after
policemen tear gassed a couple of them.
Some
overzealous security operatives also used batons
on the hapless women who were frustrated for
being hoodwinked by Mrs. Jonathan to come for
the "empowerment program" she had claimed
was from the MDG, only to be confronted with a
political rally for the president’s re-election.
One of the bags of Rice with expired Rice.
One woman who could not hold her frustration
and anger, Preye Dressman, said the whole thing
was deceitful.
"We came from our communities since 5 a.m.; I
have not eaten and stayed under sun and rain,
and now they are sending us home with empty
hands.”
A motorist, Stella Honesty, wondered why the
President’s wife was coming to give Bayelsa
women empowerment items to the people this
late in her husband’s tenure.
She said, “Is it because general elections are
around the corner? In fact, if I were some people,
I will reject any empowerment. Where was she
all this while? Some of us have refused to be
deceived by this political gimmick. Look at the
kind of suffering one is going through because
she is coming. Must she create tension each
time she visits anywhere? I have been trapped in
this traffic logjam for a long time for a journey
that would not have been more than 30
minutes.” Commuters and motorists who were
trapped in the gridlock created by the visit were
seen struggling to make detours.
The MDGs, a United Nations benchmark which is
aimed at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
for all citizens, became the basis for a political
campaign ground for Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) and Transformation Ambassadors of
Nigeria (TAN), a political group affiliated with
President Jonathan’s re-election. Several bags of
rice repackaged in bags branded with Mr.
Jonathan’s photos, sewing machines, hair
dryers, and tricycles known also “Keke NAPEP”
were distributed to some at the rally.
However,
several of the women left empty-handed.
A cursory investigation showed that most of the
items, especially food items, had expired, and
most them were later diverted to Peoples
Democratic Party politicians for onward
distribution exclusively to their followers.
Mrs. Jonathan, who was formerly a civil servant
in the state, resigned a few weeks ago even
though she had never shown up for a single day
of work before and after Governor Seriake
Dickson promoted her to the position of
permanent secretary.
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