Women
Women Condemn Injustice In Rivers State
As mothers and home
builders, what becomes our duties and responsibilities in moments of chaos within our environment? What do onlookers expect of us when our children find themselves in opposing camps and become enemies of one another?
At what point in life is motherly tendencies expected to be explored, when the goings are all well or when the goings are rough?
In certain junctions of life, most people get confused and lose their sense of direction, yet to many, it is in moments of trials that the best in them is extracted.
The storm no doubt is raging. Who knows whose building may be deroofed?
The need for a timely and worthy intervention by the women and mothers of Rivers State into the turbulent political situation in the state has become imperative and that, no doubt, may have informed a meeting of female politicians and other stakeholders with the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs in Port Harcourt recently.
It was indeed a full house as greater percentage of people who were supposed to grace the meeting attended.
In what looked like a oneness of purpose, the attendees expressed regrets and heaviness of hearts to the political situation in the state.
Like the Late nobel hero, Professor Chinua Achebe, a knife seemed to have been put on what hitherto bound us together, the falcon nolonger hears the falconer. Is anarchy let loose in Rivers State?
Your guess could be as mine but one thing remains paramount, as long as life remains, all hope is not gone. There is a high hope that if women who are worth their salt in the state could rise up to their responsibilities and refuse to play Psychophancy, putting the collective interest of the state at heart, and eschewing selfishness, a turn-around is possible and eminent as well.
In the light of this, the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Rivers State, Hon Mrs Joeba West, has called on the women of Rivers State, to take advantage of their numerical strength to move the state forward rather than watch it crumble as if they are less-concerned.
In a meeting with female politicians, politicians’ wives and other female stakeholders in politic, in the state, convened in the Ministry of Women Affairs Port Harcourt last week, the commissioner pointed out that eras when women stood aloof and watch events unfold were gone, she stated that in the present, women now make things happen.
In her new slogan which presents the Rivers’ woman as a great mind who can make it and is already moving forward, Hon Joeba West calls on the women in the state to rise up to the realities of the time and take a more proactive measures toward instilling discipline, sanity and good governance in Rivers State.
Speaking on the need to sanitise the political atmosphere in the state, Mrs West insists that the women’s participation and involvement have become highly indispensable both in the underground business of being good advisers to their husbands, sons and brothers in politics and in boldly taking a stand as well as speaking out their minds on issues that have constituted serious menace and set-back to good governance.
The gathering according to her, was a forum to rub minds and brainstorm on the way forward for the state given the over heated political atmosphere.
Explaining the reason behind the state’s exodus from PDP to APC, the honourable commissioner implored women to refuse to allow the “evil seed” sown in the state to germinate.
Condemning injustice, the commissioner referred to the unfortunate incidence in College of Arts and Sciences in Port Harcourt penultimate Sunday where a serving Senator, Senator Magnus Abbe representing Rivers, South-East was allegedly shot in the chest by the police.
In her words, “if you hate one man, and that man is Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, will you because of this one man, hold the entire Rivers State to ransome?”
“We are progressives and progressive people will come together and make things happen”, she added.
She called on women to come out in their numbers and join the malefolk in moving from LGA to LGA under the auspices of Save Rivers Movement (SRM) to sensitise citizens on the importance of good governance.
She maintained that it is only when the women in the state support Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that meaningful development can be achieved, and only on that premise would the desired change be materialized.
Still speaking on the need for women to arise, get involved and support the State government for good governance, Hon. Victoria Nyeche (Chairman House Committee on Environment) representing PHLGA Constituency II said so much is happening in the state that women can not afford to be left out. Stating that times have changed she said the place of the woman in politics is no longer only in airport as praise singers.
Hon. Nyeche said what is happening in the state is injustice and not politics hence it behoves on every woman to rise up and condemn it in its entirety.
Whether we like it or not, the honourable member believes that it is our business at the end of the day. The development of the state is suffering, it is all about good governance and the future of our children.
As mothers, it is important we choose which role to play but of more importance is the need to encourage ourselves. Women are naturally a great folk, with all the potentials to make a difference and with a determined spirit women will definitely move forward.
A cross section of female stakeholders during a political meeting in Port Harcourt, recently
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
