By Henry Kester Ewruje.

Women in Nigeria recently won a major legal battle against attempts to subjugate them and tie them to the men’s every whim.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, declared as unconstitutional the administrative policy of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), which compelled a married Nigerian woman to produce a letter of consent from her husband as a condition for issuance of international passport.

In his judgement, presiding judge, Justice G. K. Olotu, said the requirement was not only a violation of section 42 (1) (a) of the 1999 constitution but was also against Article 18 (3) of the African Charter on People’s Human Rights which disallows discrimination on grounds of sex.

Dr. Priye Iyalla-Amadi, wife of renowned author, Elechi Amadi filed the case against the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and its director-general, Chukwumah Udeh after she sought a replacement of her international passport and was told by Immigration Officials in Port Harcourt that she needed a written permission from her husband first. She wondered if they wanted to protect the institution of marriage and asked if the husbands were also asked to get letters from their wives, but they could not give her “a satisfactory explanation for this chauvinism”.

Dr. Iyalla-Amadi who was about to travel to Britain then, protested that a mature adult citizen of the country like her should not require the consent of any person before she could be issued a Nigerian passport. She did get her husband’s consent, got her passport and traveled to London. But for a lot of women, that requirement would have had a negative consequence. These kinds of little pieces of discrimination create practical problems in the lives of women. For example, if they don’t get along with their husbands or they are a domineering sort, then they won’t be able to get the passport, so Dr. Iyalla-Amadi did’nt think it was right.

In their defence, the NIS sought to justify the requirement of a letter of consent from the husband of a married woman who wants to be issued a Nigerian passport on the basis that Nigerian married women are classified alongside with minors by government as persons who require consent from the head of the family.
In its argument for the retention of a status quo, the NIS said that the requirement for consent was put in place to perpetuate the authority of the man over the wife, no matter the status she had attained in society. It also said the requirement was set to avoid the unnecessary breakdown of the marriage institution in the country.
Another argument advanced by the NIS was that obtaining a Nigerian passport from the federal government is a privilege; hence any person applying must fulfill all the conditions laid down by the sole agent of the government, which is the NIS. It also contended that married men are the bread winners of their families and therefore do not need the consent of any member of their families, including their wives to travel.

Justice G. K. Olotu, the presiding judge of the Federal High Court, in his verdict reportedly said “this kind of policy has no place in 21st century Nigeria”.
The Court concluded that “the defendant’s classification of married women along with children is a desecration of the provisions of the constitution.
The court held as absurd the defendant’s presumption that all married men are bread winners and so have license to move around the earth without hindrance. It asked, “What about the married women who are bread winners?” The court held the view that such married women should have the same license as their male counterparts.

The NIS was established in 1953.

This is another landmark case. I feel there is hope for the female folk in Nigeria. These kinds of things continue and persist because women only complain, they don’t take action. The discrimination against has been on for a long time.
The issue of men being the breadwinners is simply not true today. Women head quite a significant number of homes in Nigeria. Ways are now open for women to prove their capacity in various fields. Women should speak up and shouldn’t just grumble and let it be, or they will continue to be treated as children.

What do you think????????

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Written By Henry Kester Ewruje

History was made recently in the United States of America, when a 15 year old Nigerian Girl, Kimberly Anyadike broke aviation records to be the first African-American of her age to pilot an aircraft from coast to coast.
She accomplished the feat by flying an aircraft across the US and set a new record by becoming the youngest black female after she landed a Cessna C172 aircraft in Compton, California.

For 13 days, she was on a 2,342 miles flying spree from California on the west coast to Virginia on the east coast and was greeted with fanfare in all the 13 cities she landed. She has by this feat joined the club of women making great strides in the United States.

Since she landed the plane, the American news media like Cable News Network (CNN), Los Angeles Times, CBS and New York Daily News among others have published captivating news stories about her adventure without a mention of her Nigerian background. Kimberly Anyadike is truly a Nigerian from the south eastern part of the country.

Nigerians all over the world are impressed with her uncommon feat. The government of Nigeria should accord her due recognition as a way of encouraging our youths as well as Nigerians in diaspora whose efforts help to promote the country positively.

She began flying at the age of 12, after her parents, Charles and Pamela Anyadike enrolled her at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, a flying school and youth mentoring centre in Compton, California. Before than, she had always wanted to fly. The passion remained with her until she joined the school where she received training under an intervention and mentoring programme. There, she had the opportunity to fully realize herself. This opened the way for her to accomplish her life long ambition.

After receiving her flight instructions, she took the challenge to fly an aircraft across the US. She was able to actualize her dream because she found herself in an environment where opportunities abound and personal dreams are allowed to flourish. If she had been in Nigeria, definitely her story could have been different. Most Nigerian youths at home are angry and frustrated, and prepared to emigrate because they find the situation at home too daunting.

Kimberly Anyadike, received inspiration and support from her introduction and study of the rich history of the Tuskegee airmen, a group of black US military pilots who were discriminated against by the US armed forces during World War II on racial grounds. Interestingly, Moor Levi H. Thornhill, aged 87, flew with her across the US. She was also accompanied by Ronnell Norman, a certified commercial pilot.

Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen, there were no US military pilots who were black due to the extreme racism and prejudice that permeated all aspects of society. During several stops on her flight, Kimberly met the surviving members of the elite class of black servicemen and several autographed the airplane.

There are many Kimberly Anyadike in Nigeria who do not have the opportunity to express their potentials to the fullest. In Nigeria, creativity is rarely recognized or supported. But Kimberly’s accomplishment is a challenge to Nigeria’s most unconducive environment for youth development.

Nigeria must strive to provide opportunities for the country’s youths for without such investment and commitment, the country’s future is compromised. The youths must be included in the national planning and development agenda.

Kimberly Anyadike wants to continue flying as a private pilot. She loves science and one day hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon.

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Great Fela in action, the pioneer of Afro Beat, multi-instrumentalist, original choreographer, greater than the Beatles, bigger than the Rolling Stones and uniquely Nigerian. Lets celebrate him. Elvis Presley the King of Rock n Roll is celebrated in the US.

Today Graceland where he lived before he died is a National landmark, second most recognizable private house in the USA and also a multi million dollar income producing Museum.

Graceland was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1991. On March 27, 2006, Gale Norton, the then United States Secretary of the Interior, designated Graceland a National Historic Landmark—joining the White House.

In 1977 Fela’s Kalakuta Republic was destroyed by the then Military Junta on the grounds that the enclave was a cannabis joint. Kalakuta would have been a bigger money spinner than Graceland, it had a recording studio, it had a free health clinic, it was a spiritual home for many, even when he was still alive, you can only imagine what It would have been now, if it was still in existence, a Tourist Heaven generating Millions of Naira for the Government. Anyway, that was the past. Fela still has a following both home and abroad.

 Let the Nigerian Tourism Board maximize this opportunity to really kick start our Tourism industry.

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The efforts of the Nation’s foremost anti-graft agency, the economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are beginning to yield results.
Nigeria has recorded an improvement in corruption rating, moving from 147th position to 121st out of 180 countries.
In the latest Transparency International 2009 Global Corruption Report, Nigeria had a 10point rating for 180 countries with Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden tied at 9.3 each to emerge as the least corrupt nations.
The United Kingdom and the United States occupied 16th and 18th positions with 7.7 points and 7.3 points respectively. The most corrupt countries are Haiti 1.4, Iraq 1.3 and Somalia 1.0.
Analysis of the report shows that Nigeria gained 26 more points in its fight against corruption by moving up from 147th to 121st.
The transparency international report described legal and institutional changes against corruption under President Umaru Yar ‘Adua as appreciable. It acknowledges such legal frameworks as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative act 2007, the Public Procurement Act 2007, Investments and securities Act 2007, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
The report is good and an indication that if the EFCC and relevant agencies are given needed support and cooperation by all stakeholders, things will get better.
In a related development, the United States of America has once again given Nigeria a clean bill of health as a drug free country out of a list of countries determined as a major drug-transit and producing country for the ninth consecutive time.
A statement issued in the White House by Ian Kelly, Department Spokesman, said: The United States released its 2009 narcotics clarification report in which Nigeria was certified for the ninth consecutive time’. The statement entitled Presidential Department for Major Drug-Transit and Major illicit Drug producing countries said the United States gave Nigeria a clean bill f health as a free-drug country.
All Nigerians should be congratulated for this remarkable feat which is a major advancement in our national image. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should be commended for its resilience and determination which earned Nigeria, the prestigious certification.

Article written by Henry Kester Ewruje

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I’ve always thought about going back to Nigeria, but anytime I make a serious attempt, I hear of kidnappings, armed robbery and the likes and I shelve my plans. The high crime rate is really preventing a lot of people from going back, at least in Europe you know your security is relatively assured.

Past Military President Ibrahim Babangida has recently backed the call for the establishment of State Police, will this really help?, I thought lack of adequate funding and ill trained Policemen was the problem.

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One tittle-tattle is ubiquitous in Lagos that black human parts are the culinary delights of Asians in Thailand.
Can you believe this? Who can blame anyone for this horrifying news about this Asian cuisine that is spreading like wild fire in harmattan.

Only last month, there was disturbing and gruesome news and pictures on the internet of Asians eating black human parts in Thailand. It was like a scene from Hammer House of Horror – that flesh-creeping, blood-curdling Television series in the 1970”s and early 1980”s.

On Tuesday, October 21, 2009, the whole world woke up in the morning and had their hearts in their mouths when they saw on the internet, horrific scenes of Thai delicatessen that you would ever have thought could only be possible in the never, never world of fiction. Never mind the menu in that part of the world that consists of cats, dogs, lizards and snakes.

The pictures showed a group of people in Thailand butchering a black man to pieces before cooking and feasting on his parts.

Presently, newspaper vendors in Lagos are doing a brisk trade selling Magazines for one hundred Naira each with barbaric and gruesome pictures and stories of Asians butchering, eating and trading in black human parts. These magazines are everywhere in Lagos.

Nigerians and other Africans are already fleeing Asia as black human parts are the delicatessen particularly in Thailand. Blacks are on the run. All roads lead out of that country. Nigerians at home are making calls to their friends and relations in Bangkok, Thailand to ascertain their safety.

Why do Nigerians venture abroad with all the risks simply to eke out a living for themselves and their dependants and eventually find themselves on the menu of Asians? With all these pictures on the internet and in magazines, we can see the pasture abroad is not greener as it is being painted. There is nowhere in the world where the streets are paved with gold. And it is not true that success awaits those that travel abroad. Nigerians should stay at home and find something worth doing. The government should make conditions at home conducive enough to make our citizens willing to stay at home.

Meanwhile, an official of the Thai embassy in Abuja, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the pictures and stories on the internet will be investigated.

I say there is fire on the mountain…RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN……………

Written by Henry Kester Ewruje a freelance writer from Lagos

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