LETTER TO THE DAUGHTERS OF IJAW NATION

By Tobouke JEMINE

Today being International Women Day, I felt a urge to share some thoughts with the feminine community of Ijaw Nation. And I hope that my message will get to my mothers, aunties and sisters across Ijawland.

Daughters of Ijawland, I know that you are in a society where the definition of Woman is Marriage; where the girl-child is seen as a creature designed for procreation, doing domestic chores and restricted from noble self-actualization; where insignificant attention is paid to the girl-child education; where women’s ambition to be involved in active politics and governance is suppressed by the iron-hand of masculinity and where her longing to step higher in her chosen career is vehemently opposed by the ego of men; yet I have to tell you, dear mothers and sisters,that Culture may disqualify you, but Nature has never disqualified you from discovering and expressing your God-given abilities, dreams and aspirations to the fullest – and Nature is superior to Culture.

Daughters of Ijaw Nation, women have been at the heart of sociatal progress from the beginning of Time, though their efforts and positive impacts have been scarcely applauded by the pride of men. But whether you are endorsed or not, motivate yourself to drink deep from the springs of Education and be actively involved in the Politics ,Governance and Progress of our society. It’s not given to men alone to adorn the pages of history with their names, acts and images.

Daughters of Coastal Nigerdelta, who knows if the BEAUTIFUL ONES HAVE BEEN BORN AMONG YOU?
Who knows if the POLITICAL RELEVANCE We are Clamouring for will come through YOU?
Who knows if what this hundreds of Ijaw men have not been able to do in all this years, a single Izon woman would do it within a year? Who knows?Who knows if you are the saviors our days are waiting for? Who knows if you have the grace to inspire Men to do exploits like the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and you have not discovered it or tapped it?

Who knows if you are the Rehab whose faith and fear of God we need to bring down the walls of anti-resource control laws? Who knows?Who knows if you are graced like the wife of Lapidoth whose prophetic presence enabled the Israelites to liberate their country from oppression and foreign domination?Who knows if you are the Esther whose fasting and prayer will make the Governor to ‘decree’ the creation of Arogbo-Ijaw Local Government Area?Who knows?

Who knows if you are the reincarnated Joan of Arc whose 12-foot-long banner we need to defeat our tormentors in the Aso Rocks of Nigeria? Who knows?
So be active in the progressive activities of your community as Indira Gandhi was active in the political colieum of India, as Angela Merkel has been active in Germany, as Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been active in Liberia and on the world stage,as Oprah Winfrey has been active in the media, as Mother Teresa was active in the theaters of humanitarianism, as Hillary Clinton has been active on the political scenes of Lincoln’s country and as Nadine Gordiner’s pen was mighty against Apartheid in the south of Africa.

Like Mary Slessor who left the shores of Scotland and landed in the history of Nigeria as the femine courage that stopped the killing of twins, you can put an end to infrastructural poverty in Arogbo Ibe and beyond. Yes, you can!

So, come out bold and make a difference. Who told you it’s impossible? Who told you women have no place in the halls of community servants?

Who told you that you cannot be a greater version of Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti?

Who lied to you that the only title you can add to your name is “Mrs”, and not “Dr” or “Prof.” like Prof.Alele Williams?

Who is deceiving you that you cannot, in meekness, extend your influence beyond the walls of your matrimonial home ?

Who told you that you cannot lead a liberation movement like Chief (Mrs) Margaret Ekpo of Calabar?

Who told you that your story of greatness is impossible? Who told you that your story won’t be interesting to the ears in this day and time? Who is feeding you that junk?

Who told you that Dr Dora Akunyili was not born of a man in the east of Nigeria, and that she was that daring because she descended from Jupiter? Who told you this lie?

Listen, dear sisters, like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, you could be our national gift and international presence. Yes, you can!

Like Maryam Okogwu-Babangida, your education and marriage could engrace our land with state establishments and federal institutions.Yes, you can!

Like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, your gift and grace could bring the Ijaw Nation a transcontinental recognition. Yes, you can!

So come up bold and register destiny in the Vineyard of Community Service, Social Care, Philanthropy, Human Capital Development, Human Rights Movements and Politics.

All you need is to catch a Vision. Uncover your Potentials.Hone your Skills. Educate yourself. Strive for Self-reliance with Humility.Be a Woman of Contentment. Participate in Communal Meetings. Give Birth to Organizations or Join Existing Ones.Get Patrons and Sponsors.Get Determined .Get Brave. Because the Road will be Tough. Pressures will Come.The Bed will be too Cold for your Man to Bear. The KiDs will need your Lullabies. ‘Hungers’ will call for your Kitchen Prowess.You will have to Prioritize. Clone yourself to fulfill Righteousness .Yes, it will be Rough.But always remember: It Can Be Done.And done in the Best Way. Others have done it before. The Roads Were Not Similar, But The Goals Were.

Remember,in case you have forgotten, that the Ijo tradition sees the SUPREME DEITY has both Masculine and Femine Being. Hence , we call Him “Temeowei”, “Tamarau”, ” Woyingi”, Oyin” “Ayubarau”, among others. What does that communicate to you?

This world, is also your place. This is the only planet where you are expected to use every resource, talent and ability God has endued you with; there’s no other place.

But if you are the self-effacing or reclusive type, or if you have no means or desire of expressing your endowments, dreams and aspirations in the light of the sun, you can invest in your children or the young ones in your sphere of contact. You can dress up their minds with those noble visions. You can take out time to tailor their coats of many colors, and mentor their destines. The mother of Dele Momodu did it. The mother of Ben Carson did it. The mother of Kwame Nkrummah did it.The mother of Ghengis Khan did it. The mother of John Wesley did it. The mother of Thomas Edison did it. The mother and grandmother of Barack Obama did it. Surely, you too, can do it, and even better.

So by every means ,contribute to the progress of the human community; choose to make a difference. Yes, YOU CAN!

God Bless Ijawland, Nigeria and Africa, now and forever!

©08/03/2024