Ebonyi Women Protest Suspension Of Female Legislator

Thousands of women from Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, following the suspension of their constituency’s representative in the House of Assembly, Mrs Lillian Igwe.

The women, who took their protest to major streets, asked the House leadership to recall Mrs. Igwe within 24 hours or they will take their case to the Aso Rock Villa.

Aged between 40 and 80 years, the protesters chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions, such as “Recall our representative now”, “You cannot tarnish the good name of our illustrious daughter”, EBHA, concentrate  and make laws and stop witch-hunting people”,  “We are giving you 24 hours to recall her or face the wrath of  Ivo women” and “Our Dear Governor, please call the House leadership to order”, among others.

Their spokesperson, Mrs Obiageli Doris, described the suspension of Mrs Igwe as unconstitutional, uncalled for and a plot by some politicians in the state to undermine and tarnish the image of the woman for her refusal to endorse the impeachment of the former Speaker Mr. Ikechukwu Nwankwo.

Mrs. Obiageli said her group had waited patiently for a committee set up to investigate the allegation to invite the suspended lawmaker to defend herself.

She said they decided to stage the protest, having observed that the House was not ready to either invite Mrs. Igwe or recalled her.

Her words: “We decided to stage this peaceful protest to make our feelings known to Governor Martin Elechi, the House leadership and the entire lawmakers. We are here to protect the unnecessary victimisation, embarrassment and attest image of our representative by the Assembly”.