Yenagoa—Wives of Traditional Rulers in Bayelsa State and other key stakeholders have staged a massive walk in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital to support the State Government in its fight against gender-based violence in the State.
The walk, which started from the popular Ekeki park to Ernest Ikoli Press Centre secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), witnessed the open declaration of support for the administration of Governor Douye Diri.
The wives of the monarchs insist that the Diri-led government has shown commitment towards the protection of women and the girl child through the setting of the Gender Response initiative team (GRIT) under the leadership of Barr. Dise Ogbise.
Leadership newspaper reports that the Traditional rulers Wives Association is led by Her Royal Majesty, Queen Josephine Diete-Spiff who was represented by the association’s Secretary, Queen Tecy Diongoli during the walk which was organized by GRIT.
The walk was part of activities marking the 16-days activism against gender-based violence with the theme “Orange the world: end violence against women now”!.
Mangrove pen.ng gathered that the walk witnessed the participation of key stakeholders including the Association of Professional Women Engineers, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the Ethan Rose Foundation, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Others include the BREECAN, GREP, Stand up for women Society, FACE initiative, The Wind Dynasty, National Council of Women Society, the Albino Foundation, Bang off, representatives from Ministry of Justice, Ministry of health, Wowican, Do Foundation, Juliet Pulu Foundation, National Agency for the Prohibition big Trafficking in persons, National Human rights commission, Starrz Safety initiative, Collins Cocodia Foundation, among others.
Chairperson of GRIT, Barr. Dise Ogbise pointed out that the road walk with key stakeholders is the re-affirmation of the commitment of the State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri towards putting an end to the incidents of gender-based violence.
According to Ogbise, despite the noticeable drop in the rate of gender-based violence in the state, there is the need for participation of the people of the state to join hands with the state government for an end to gender-based violence.
Also speaking, a member of the GRIT, Engr. Ann Obuebite called for all hands to be on deck to fight violence against women and children urging victims of violence to speak up to get urgent help.
The State Chairman of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Mrs Gbanaibolou Oweife observed that the years of violence against women and children have had psychological effects on the victims.
She assured that the medical association of Nigeria is committed to helping victims of abuse.
Earlier in their speeches, the President of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Wives Association, Her Majesty, Queen Josephine Diete-Spiff represented by the Secretary, Her Royal Majesty, Diongoli Okportari, and the chairperson, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa state chapter, Pastor Felicia Afenfia pledged their support towards eradicating all forms of violence against women and children.
The Wives of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Association however declared their commitment to the fight against gender-based violence with the open adoption of a 13year old victim of defilement who was abused by her father.