The Senator representing Anambra North at the Red chamber, Princess Stella Oduah has expressed her disappointment with the attitude of some “leaders” of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary election of the party to select her candidate for the November 6th Guber Election.
The election produced Valentine Ozigbo as the winner but in her statement titled “NWANYIBUIFE: THANK YOU SENATOR UCHE EKWUNIFE!” the former Minister of Aviation said that: “in the year of our Lord 2021, our society still struggles at the prospect of a woman wielding Executive powers.”
Sen. Oduah frowned at the action of some leaders of the party in buildup to the primary election and accused them of high-leveled betrayal and dishonesty.
“It was a contest that revealed the shocking extent some so-called leaders were willing to go to exhibit the kind of nauseating dishonesty, backbiting and betrayal like never before seen in the annals of politicking and my prayers to all those seemingly agreeable foes that conspired is that their daughters would face the same karma they wished on this woman.”
The complete statement reads:
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
The above referenced quote was made by Rosa Parks, a civil rights activist who famously refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
Her defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and its success would ultimately launch nationwide effort to end racial segregation of public facilities in the United States.
That was fifties America battling the debilitating scourge of segregation and racial inequality but in the year of our Lord 2021, our society still struggles at the prospect of a woman wielding Executive powers.
You hear statements like
“How can a woman be governor?”
“So you’re telling us that with all the Igwe’s and Chiefs we have, we should support a woman governor so our royalties will be standing up for a woman at functions?”
It is against this backdrop that my friend, sister and colleague, The Distinguished Senator Uche Ekwunife (IYOM), aspired to become the PDP flagbearer at the coming Nov 6 polls and though the primary has come and gone, I just want to extol the virtues of this amazon for her uncommon display of courage, vision and passion in the way and manner she gave it her all on a turf traditionally considered the exclusive preserve of the male gender.
Inspite of the many odds placed in her way and a society that frowns at the idea of a woman wielding executive powers, she powered on and indeed became a frontline aspirant that couldn’t be wished away and for this singular achievement, I not only celebrate but thank her on behalf of women and the many girls out there who are even now inspired by her action, to dare to not only dream big but ultimately shatter that glass ceiling and I retain no doubts whatsoever that her name is already written in gold.
Somewhere a little girl’s impressionable mind is soaking in all this and laying the foundation for a future that would not only beat the odds but completely shatter this age-long misconception and this could only have happened because of the examples set by courageous women like Uche who at one time in the race, had 17 leaders authoring and jointly signing a most unfortunate communique against her person and legitimate ambition!
It was a contest that revealed the shocking extent some so-called leaders were willing to go to exhibit the kind of nauseating dishonesty, backbiting and betrayal like never before seen in the annals of politicking and my prayers to all those seemingly agreeable foes that conspired is that their daughters would face the same karma they wished on this woman.
And to the women who couldn’t see beyond pecuniary interests to understand that her aspiration represented a hope for the future emancipation of their daughters, this same karma that insists and conspired to ensure a woman never tastes high office must naturally visit that girl child they hold dear.
But I doff my hat for Uche as she remained focussed, undaunted and unwavering; soldiering on by tapping into a formidable network of extremely passionate grassroot loyalists garnered from years dedicated to directly impacting lives and spreading joy on the faces of everyone fortunate to experience her beautiful and humane aura.
She dared to pursue her dreams, remaining as constant as the Northern star even in the Lion’s den and I, like many women out there, can beat our chests and celebrate with pride at what she was able to achieve.
We will extol her virtues and commend her for showing others to come, the possibility warehoused in a mind that is unwilling to bow and embrace Society’s backward idea of the unsuitability of women for state Executive office.
Because of her and the input of other female leaders out there who are constantly daring and beating the odds, a template that would eventually usher in a future wave of highly competent, confident, self assured, goal oriented and go-getting women in high office is already set and being implemented and I retain no doubts whatsoever that that day will soon come when we can lift up our eyes and see no glass ceiling stopping women from becoming anything they set their minds and hearts to achieve.
To Uche I say, WE WON!
Your highly impressive result Inspite of the very real, evident and powerful odds, demonstrates that we are barely inches away from shattering that glass ceiling and so I congratulate all women out there because your victory remains our hope for better days ahead.
Thank you nne for standing up to be counted on our behalf!
Someday, we will get there!
Signed
Distinguished Senator Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah OON.
