Monday, November 10, 2008

WE ARE NOT HAPPY

A lot of women's human rights organisations, media houses, bloggers, facebookers etc are interested in Uzoma Okere's story. She was battered by some naval officers for not leaving the road for them to pass while in traffic. See story here and here .Visit here for update as well. Waffarian has got the picture of the Zombie Naval Admiral.
Below is a protest letter to be published by as many newspaper outlets as possible and any other means like blog, facebook is welcome.... Please join this crusade anyway you can.

WE ARE NOT HAPPY
(Young Women In Nigeria protest against Naval beating of Uzoma Okere)
We learnt recently about a case where six armed naval ratings attached to a Rear Admiral went berserk in Lagos, beating up and stripping a lady identified as Uzoma Okere. This is totally unacceptable and as citizens of this country, we believe that we have a responsibility to call on other Nigerians especially the governement, law practitioners and other relevant authorities to bring these men to justice. In a country where we are committed to protecting the human rights of individuals, we cannot fold our arms and do nothing. We were not there at the scene of the incidence to stop such distaseteful act but we can still do something and even if we cannot do anything, we will speak against it. This is totally wrong.
This young lady could be any one of us, our mother, our sister, cousin, aunty or someone close to us. She id the victim today. Tommorrow we do not know who it will be. Should we continue to live in fear? Is our country not safe enough? Can we not find refuge in our justice system? I don't think any of these is true.
We as young Nigerian women are not happy with what has happened and we are saying something about it now. We are also calling on our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters and others who have the authority and resources to punish these culprits to do so. This is the time for change in the world and we have to contribute in our own little way to creating that positive change and making the world a better and safer place for us, our mothers and daughters.
..............................................................................................................................................................

Greeting from FEMINIST TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE IN CAPE TOWN. We are now in Monkey Valley and I have met 2 wonderful cats. Will blog about them tomorrow.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blogged about this last weeek. Watching that video made me sooo mad! I composed a long and bitter mail, and sent it to many INTERNATIONAL blogs and sites, because I've realised Nigerians only know how to pay attention when they're getting bad attention from other shores. It was barbaric and unnecessary, and frankly I won't be happy with any other verdict but dismissal of that so-called Admiral. It's high time 'the big boys' started getting their come-uppance for their power hungry ways.

Don't even get me started on the whole absurdity of sirens and convoys and road-clearing for unimportant people.

/end rant

doug said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Yankeenaijababe said...

Very sad but true scenario happening in the land of Nigeria. I love the fact that Nigerian are becoming more aware of themselves especially our "Women." This is pure nonsense on the part of the naval officers. How could they beat up a lady in public and expose her body like that? I doubt if justice woudl serve its course in Nigeria where people get away with everything. Naija needs change. Ignorance is a big disease.

La Reine said...

What really would have to be done in order to change what is to what we all seem to want it to be?

The simple fact is that the majority is against such things and yet remain Extremely Quiet about it all.

Sadly Onyeka is right, Nigerians seem to value poor International attention in such matters.

aloted said...

i am still in shock over this matter...just despicable!

i have joined the group on fb

Vera Ezimora said...

I dunno what to say about this. I'm so disappointed. And scared.

poeticallytinted said...

This is a microcosm of everything that is wrong with us. When Nigerians are pushed to the wall they burrow into the wall and come out through the other side. What scares and saddens me most is that EVERYONE reacts with outrage yet NOBODY ensures that any definitive action is taken to stop these animalistic acts. Like i've said before i still get bullied everyday from work on 3rd mainland by stupid-overcompensating-for- their-intellectual-and-physiological-inadequacies-idiotic men in SUVs with blaring sirens!

Grahamn Kracker said...

Terrible - I'm glad so many are speaking up against this.

The Activist said...

I am happy so many people are ready and will to fight against this barbaric act

bArOquE said...

we talk too much in this country, its high time we DO SOMETHING...besides passing this info around, what is the next LINE OF ACTION?...secondly, what are you advising all these NIGERIANS that you are enlightening to do when we are CAUGHTin one of these scenes...JUMP IN & start screaming your head off (that could work)...please give us the FOLLOW-UP DIRECTIVES on this ROAD TO JUSTICE

The Activist said...

@ Baroque: I think you are missing something, u cant not call online protest a mere talking and if you read what I posted, a lot of NGO in collaboration with some of us are already doing something. The case has being presented to the ministry of justice and other NGOs are taking it to court.

Besides, I cant give any directive aside from doing what I know how to do best share this information and let all of us brainstorm to know what to do next. If Uzoma gets justice, it will help stop the harrasment because the men in uniform will know there is justice. These are the kind of things we need. So Baroque what are you doing in your own way to help?

The Activist said...

@ Baroque: remember blog is a powerful media tool.

Yewande Atanda said...

Okere is already in court with a suit of 100million. This will teach them a big lesson.

The Activist said...

Thanks for sharing this Yewande!

doug said...

Deleted this earlier 'cos of a typo. It was right after Onyeka's comment and I forgot to replace it:

"Unfortunately the admiral will not be dismissed and his aides will get away with a rap on the wrist.

We'll all be enraged, but the rage will gradually simmer as our focus drifts to the all-consuming task of daily survival in our dear country.

Sad, but not a total defeat. I think that with every new show of barbarism our cries get louder, we rally round much better and the attendant effects get stronger. We're getting there...

As a side note though, considering that that lady was a military brat (and I mean no offense by this), I would've loved to know what she said/did when she jumped out of her car and grabbed the aides' horsewhip."

The Activist said...

Military brat? Well, I dont think so. She is a human being that is brutally violated.

The admiral will not be vindicated. He will not win in court and he is going to pay N100million and that is a lesson no one in the force will forget in a hurry

The issue is not abt what she thot when she grabbed the whip. It's about them having no right to violate a citizen

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

What happened was a travesty. Hopefully this will spotlight the brutality and injustice of our nation and encourage all of us to not just do better, but expect better.

Thanks for sharing this, Standtall

Naija Idol said...

terrible, i tell u! glad people r becoming aware of their rights.

The Activist said...

SSD: I am sure this cause will be won

Naija Idol: we can no longer allow ourselves to be treated as a nobody in our country. The time is now to make change really

My Passion, my focus, the change that I want to see in the world - is my propellent factor.

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