Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
As the General Elections continues to draw nearer, women in Taraba State have been called upon to fully participate in all the voting processes during elections.
The President, Women in Media WIM, Taraba State, Mrs. Queen Enoch made the call during the Second Town Hall Meeting held at NUT Hall, Jalingo.
According to her, Women are the determinant of winners in every elections, adding that they are the majority when it comes to voting.
She said that the Town Hall Meeting is a vehicle for change and a platform for discussions, noting that the idea was berthed out of the fact that Women in Taraba State have been largely underrepresented in the political and governance space of the state.
“As we currently have now in Nigeria, Women, and Youths in Taraba State are only use as pawns for power bargain and ascendance by political power seekers.
” The objectives were also geared towards setting agenda for the development of the state as well as the role of Women in the political processes.
She appreciated members of WIM for their commitments. She also appreciated partners with philanthropic spirit who desired to see Women development and their political voice heard, and urge women to engage and contribute by voting credible candidates come 2023 general elections.
“This time around, we extended our invitation to many political office seekers whom include, Gubernatorial Candidates, but to our dismy, none of them show face. Anyway, we the Women will give them the answer come 2023, we don’t care about the political party anymore, we will go after a person’s credibility – she said.
In her remarks, Wife of the Taraba State Governor, Barr. Anna Darius Ishaku says the Hope Afresh Foundation Taraba has recorded tremendous success in enlighting women on the importance of them going out to cast their votes.
She also said that the Hope Afresh foundation has Gender-Based violence intervention within two years (2020-2022) in the state, adding that within two years, the foundation had targeted 185,180 population to reach out to increase awareness of Gender-Based violence across the 16 LGAs of the state.
Represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Hope Afresh Foundation Taraba, Mrs. Sarah David Ibi, Anna explained that the awareness of the GBV and reportage cases has risen beyond target by 12,980 people.
“This shows that society is impacted by the get involved Campaign slogan of “If you see Something, say Something,” she added.
According to her, out of the intended targeted population of 185,180, 198,160 were reached, i.e 52% has been achieved which is above the target.
She disclose that, the successes were recorded through a strategy of using (1+9 green card) by the Foundation.
She revealed that the Hope Afresh foundation Taraba had also achieved its target of assisting twelve (12) survivors of Gender-Based violence (GBV) in the state.
The wife of the governor commended the Women in Media (WIM) for the initiative and promised partnership to achieve the set goals.
On her part, the Taraba State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hon. Bridget Twar explained that most of the victims of Gender-Based violence are women, therefore, she urged them to rise and support the campaign to end the menace.
On his part, Taraba State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Sokoya, one of the WIM’s major partners who described Taraba as one of the peaceful states in Nigeria said the police will not relent in carrying out their constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. Sokoya who was represented by DSP Agatha Usman at the occasion revealed that the Police would ensure security of voters during the elections.
“We will be there to give security to the voters, but we are not directing voters on which Party to vote.
“We will also ensure that materials are safe and also the elections go smoothly without any disruption.
On violence, he said,
“Even women police do experience such kind of victimization which it is not being taken lightly by the force, and advised the women to always report cases of GBV like rape and other violence to the police, adding that there is a unit meant for such cases at all police stations as directed by the IGP to be established.
Speaking, FIDA Taraba state Chairperson, Barr. Fyafa Hosea Ibi said the association has taken steps to ensure that Women’s right are not trumple upoun and urge women to always report any rights violation to the association for action.
“We have also done a lot in sensitizing the people at various levels including worship places, and markets among others on the GBV across the state.
She disclose that FIDA is working closely with the police in ensuring that justice takes its cause on the perpetrators who pleaded guilty at the court of law, and advised women to build confidence in themselves by reporting cases of violence, especially rape.
The President of WIM, Taraba State, Mrs. Queen Kunde Enoch said that the town hall concept is a vehicle for change and a platform for discussions, noting that the idea was borne out of the fact that Women in Taraba State have been largely underrepresented in the political and governance pace of the state.
“As we currently have now in Nigeria, women, and youth in Taraba are only used as pawns for power bargain and ascendance by political power seekers,” she al
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Dr. Phillip Duwe who was represented by the Secretary of the Commission who enlighten the gathering on the electoral processes and answered questions asked by some participants.
There were goodwill messages from the Taraba State Coordinator of NBC, representatives of INEC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) among others.
However, Hon. JJ Katabs, and Hon. Tanko Bobbo Andeme, an SDP House of Assembly candidate from Karim Lamido for the 2023 election, and the Press Secretary to the Wife of the Taraba State Governor were among those that graced the event.
