IT is pertinent to visit the Biblical story, where the women of Israel rose up to praise David when he came back from war with the Philistine. David, armed with the head of Goliath, received the highest adoration from the women folk, who sang of his exploit and extolled his brave and courageous virtues.
It was in like manner when Akwa Ibom women rose up en-masse in a show of solidarity and embarked on a victory walk in honour of the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, over the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed the governor’s election.
During the victory walk, Akwa Ibom women from all walks of life, came out in their thousands, from across the three senatorial districts and 31 local government areas of the State, abandoning their trade and business, to walk, sing and dance starting from Uyo Township Stadium through Aka Road and Wellington Bassey Way to the Government House to show their support for their governor and his wife.
Setting the tone for the rally, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet, said “the women’s victory walk, is an expression of women’s satisfaction with the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict, which ruled in favour of the mandate they gave to Governor Udom Emmanuel during the governorship poll of April 11, 2015.”
The Women Affairs Commissioner recalled that in the last election, Akwa Ibom women constitute over 60 per cent of the electorates and contributed the bulk of votes for Gov. Udom Emmanuel.
Mrs. Edet, used the avenue to pour encomium on the governor who has accorded women a pride of place in his administration, and promised the governor, their continuous support. She also thanked the governor for his vision to transform Akwa Ibom State.
Also speaking, a women grass-root mobiliser and wife of the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Maureen Aniekan Umanah, said the entire women rejoice over what God had used the leadership of the state to bring to the people of Akwa Ibom State, especially the women, adding that the people were satisfied with the worthy representation of Governor Udom Emmanuel and Wife.
Visibly delighted, Governor Udom Emmanuel said he was encouraged by the overwhelming support and solidarity he has received from the women fold during the campaign and election. He said his mandate meant that he should to continue in his industrialisation drive of the state.
He said his government will leave no stone unturned towards alleviating the burden of hardship occasioned by current economic down turn as experienced by the masses, especially women and children in the state.
To demonstrate his commitment to empowering Akwa Ibom women, Governor Udom Emmanuel announced that women beneficiary in the next phase of Small and Medium Scale loan would be increased from 60 to 65 per cent. This he said would enable them access more funds to do their businesses.
Apart from increasing their percentage in the SME loan, he, encouraged women to take advantage of his lofty agricultural initiative, and urged them to key into the Cocoa Plantation Scheme, soon to be launched by his administration, assuring that seedlings would be provided for farmers at subsidized rates.
Governor Emmanuel also announced a pilgrimage package to Israel, where 310 widows comprising 10 from each of the 31 local government areas of the State who will embark on the pilgrimage to pray for Akwa Ibom, and tasked the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet to immediately commence the process of actualising the trip for the widows.
He thanked the women for their solidarity and unwavering support for his government and promised to ensure that they, like other Akwa Ibom people, enjoy the dividends of democracy.
In the same vein, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, expressed delight at the massive turn out for the solidarity walk, assuring that the Udom Emmanuel administration would not betray the confidence and loyalty the women had reposed in him. She expressed her readiness to work with the women for the good of all Akwa Ibom people.
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