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By Lilian Nkem-Worluh
Women, drawn from all the wards in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, have staged a protest to the state’s Government House to register their displeasure over what they described as “an assault and intimidation of the leader of Etche legislative assembly, Hon. Cynthia Nwala.”
They described the assault on Nwala as “a disgrace to womanhood,” calling that the perpetrators be brought to book.
The protested, made up of young, middle-aged and older women, were seen with placards, some of which read: ‘Etche women are in pains,’ ‘Etche women in politics must be protected against tyrants,’ ‘No more intimidation and maltreatment of women,’ ‘Etche women say no to intimidation and maltreatment,’ Woman beater should not be allowed in exalted office.’
Speaking with newsmen, speaker of Etche legislative assembly, Rt. Hon Cynthia Nwala, recounted how she was harassed and intimidated by the chief security officer on the alleged orders of the chairman of the council, Hon. Obinna Anyanwu.
Nwala explained that the councilors had at a meeting agreed that the mace be taken home “as the council was under renovation and it was no longer safe to keep it there.”
She said that the CSO, Chinedu Onyechi, on learning of councillors’ decision, ordered her to hand over the mace to him.
“I refused and asked him if he is an elected councillor or appointee. Before I knew it they tore my cloth and destroyed my husband’s car I took to the council,” she noted
She called on the governor of Rivers state to call the council boss to order, adding that justice should be done as well as ensuring that Nwala’s car is replaced
Also, one of the women who sought to remain anonymous said the leader of Etche legislative assembly “should be apologised to for the intimidation and harassment meted out on her.” She said posterity will not forgive those who connived to embarrass her like that and called on the governor to come to their aid to see that justice is done
Sandra Ihunwo, one of the protesters who expressed displeasure over the incidence pleaded that the matter should not be swept under the carpet and for justice to be done fast.
“How can a woman be disgraced this way? She is somebody’s wife and mother. Why the assault,” she asked.
