Women
Rivers Deputy Gov And The Great Expectations
Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Banigo
From the day Dr
Ipalibo Banigo to honoured the invitation to run as a mate to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, many Rivers people learnt to appreciate her as a virtuous personality, and thenceforth, ceased to appraise her with the yardstick that hitherto equally yoked her with her folk.
The reason isn’t far-fetched, whatever must have necessitated the choice of her above every other, especially the very ones with great thirst and hunger for political positions, is enough to grant her an express approval for such an enviable seat.
While some people approved of her based on her pedigree, others felt it is wise to test the womenfolk to have a taste of them, probably because of the mark made by known Nigerian women who have had the privilege to serve the nation; the likes of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili and the late Professor Dora Akunyili of blessed memory.
These women are known to have dispensed their duties without dragging their images in the mud.
Besides, people are tired of the sixteen years of democracy controlled by 99 per cent of the men without tangible and significant contribution of women in policy making. Hence, the mention of a woman as the potential deputy governor was like a surety to the restoration of the dignity and lost glory of the garden city and the state at large.
Somehow too, they may not be off the tract, after all it is said that behind every successful man, is a woman.
So, aside the political game of wooing the sympathy of the women folk to the Peoples Democratic Party which would culminate in more votes for the party given the numerical strength of the folk, the executive Governor must have realized the power of the woman in home building which also translates in nation building before he settled for the choice of a woman.
The Governor ofcourse wouldn’t have gotten any other better than the “chosen one”, the one on whom the lot fell on, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, because the yardstick for the selection was not based on flamboyance but on ‘brain power’, the inner beauty of the woman, which is far withdrawn from the physical features no wonder the governor in his campaign days said “Admittedly, the search has been long and thorough. We gave very deep thought and consideration to vital character traits and qualification the person should possess as the number two citizen of the state.
“The challenge to pick the right person was even more difficult in view of the present rot and decay in governance and infrastructure in Rivers State …. It became necessary to look for a fit and proper person with deep knowledge of the state’s bureaucracy and whose cognate experience would greatly add value to our programs of action”.
Although nature tried to balance the beauty equation in the Deputy Governor yet, it has to be understood that her inner beauty stands her out of her folk thereby making her the envy of all that she is today.
This accounts to the numerous applauses to her kitty as many, male and female see what is in her and do not doubt her ability to live up to expectation.
For Dr Ipalibo Banigo, her emergence as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State provides another window for her to interact and work with the Rivers State Civil Servants and even to serve them.
As a retired civil servant who served in various capacities and offices, she believes she is familiar and acquainted with the terrain of the state civil service and so has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of the civil servants.
During her campaigns Dr Banigo did not only raise the hope of the civil servants, she kept them salivating and praying for the eventual dawn of her days in the brick house. Hence, for the civil servants in Rivers State, eth name “Dr Ipalibo Banigo”, is in itself a promissory note for prompt and regular payment of salaries, prompt and regular payment of pensions and gratuities, prompt and regular release of overheads and imprests to ministries and extra-ministerial departments, regular training of all categories of workers in the civil service as well as prompt and regular payment of state contributions to the reformed pension scheme among many others.
Although Dr Ipalibo is yet to commence active service, she was quick to remember her electoral promises and while appreciating the electorate for her victory at the polls, she said “together we shall serve and fulfill our electoral promises ……we shall reap the dividends of democracy under this governor ….”
For women in the state, their overwhelming presence at the venue of the unveiling of Dr Banigo as a running mate to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), their composition as they were adorned in different native attires, beaming with uncontrollable excitement explained their definition of the personality to be unveiled.
As the first female running mate of the governorship candidate, it was a historic master stroke in any political calculations in Rivers State.
Moreso, the choice of her would best be described as an invention of a caveat that silenced critics and created some sorts of balance in the political sphere.
The Rivers women are already heaving a sigh of relief and feeling a sense of belonging given her wealth of experience spanning over the decades.
Their hopes are high that the number two citizen of the state will surely constitute a springboard from which many women will reach their peak.
Expectations are high that with her, the journey to the realization of a female governor in Rivers State is cut short and many women would be encouraged into politics.
How about girl-child education and gender-violence? It is time to herald a new era where women would sing a new song of political awakening, a new song of socio-economic emancipation in 2015.
What less can you expect? As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected, Dr Ipalibo is just given much, the varying expectations are hinged on the fact that the able deputy governor is able indeed.
In realization of her worth and capability, Governor Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike expressed thus “Let me reiterate that our choice is not a run-of-the-mill material. She is competent, tested and seasoned professional and bureaucrat with several years as a key holder of highly challenging public offices in Rivers State”.
It will be worthy of mention that Dr Ipaligbo Banigo has served in Rivers State as Permanent Secretary, Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government before retiring meritoriously from the public service.
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.
