ERELU BISI FAYEMI: SENIOR ADVOCATE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Wife:Help me oooo! Help me oooo!! Husband:I will kill you today, you this useless woman. Wife:Please baba Kehinde dont kill me Husband:I will kill you, sebi you said you will not hear. Wife:My eyes! My head!! That is the violent interaction from the recurrent attacks against mama Kehinde, by her husband in the early 80s in Bauchi town, Bauchi state. Mr and Mrs Afolabi Akinwumi (aka) baba and mama Kehinde were members of a happy family. I was around twelve years old then. Our family came in contact with them in 1982. We both rented apartments in the same compound along Kofar Gombe, Unguwar Dawaki, Bauchi, Bauchi state. They were family of six. Kehinde was the first child. Taye died at birth. Tunrayo was the second, followed by Tunde and Sunkanmi who was the last child. I was in the same class with Kehinde. Suddenly, the happiness in this family became history as a result of regular battery of mama Kehinde by baba Kehinde. Initially, co-tenants and neighbours do intervene to stop the husband from violating his wife but, after sometime, it became so constant that no one cared again, That was how this family was running throughout our stay together. In 1983, we moved to another apartment along Wunti road, though, i still maintained the same school with Kehinde. A year later, Kehinde told me that his father had sent away his mother for no reason, forcing her to leave her children behind. Kehinde and myself were the leading stars in our class. Whenever Kehinde made first, I will be second or vis-versa. In 1985, we relocated to Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti state. I didnt go back to Bauchi until 2008. We used to have a friend called Sani. He was my host when I visited Bauchi in 2008. I asked Sani about our friends including Kehinde and his siblings. The news I heard then was heartbreaking. Sani told me Kehinde was shot dead by the police while robbing a bank. Tunrayo died of unidentified ailment. Tunde became a drug addict. Sani didnt know the where about of the last child. Baba and mama Kehindes where about too was not known. This is a sad story of a promising family. Thats the extent domestic violence and/or violation of womens right could destroy a family. Today am a teacher, my younger brother who was very close to late Tunrayo, is a correction officer in the USA state of Texas. My other siblings are graduates from reputable Universities. We were all friends to the Kehindes except my youngest brother who was not part of Bauchi history. If Erelus type was in Bauchi then, the Kehinde family might still be intact today. Erelu Bisi Fayemi, just like Betty Ford, 1918- 2011, the wife of the 38th President of the United States of America, Gerald R. Ford, has passion for the womens rights. Betty didnt hide her feelings about her passion for women even if its against the spirit of her party, the republican. Betty Ford was a tireless advocate for womens rights. Civil liberty advocatess often cite her work on the Equal Right Amendment, (ERA), which was designed to grant women full legal rights under the constitution of the United States of America. Erelu Bisi Fayemi didnt stop her propagation on womens rights alone, she also went as far as sponsoring a bill to the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The bill was passed into law on the 25th November, 2011, prohibiting violence against women. The law covers issues on rape, battery, abdication of family responsibilities et.c Erelu is well versed in our culture. Wherever she goes for advocacy, she advises women to respect their husbands. She tells them that the laws are made to protect them, while they too must not abuse the laws. Erelu has given philanthropy a new look in Ekiti. Bisi Fayemi, does assist the needy without notice or invitation to do so. She has built several structures to help the needy. Erelu has helped several families financially and socially. She has helped many families to settle their social problems. There was a case of a lady friend who was a regular victim of her husbands battery. The husband also refused to contribute to the upkeep of the family. When Erelu heard about the case, she insisted the husband must be brought to justice. Fortunately for the husband, he pleaded to be of good behaviour and he was given the opportunity to make amends. Today, that family is thankful to God and full of appreciations to Our own Ochiorah. Erelu Bisi Fayemi made a provision of N200,000 for any family that gives birth to twins and above. She recently facilitated the construction of Adunni Olayinka Wellness and Cancer diagnostic centre in EKSUTH. Few weeks ago, Erelu Bisi Fayemi visited all the markets in Ekiti to assist the market women in their trades. The programme was called Erelu be oja wo The market women were given buses and millions of Naira to enhance their trade. It was unprecedented in the history of Ekiti. Erelus effort was not born out of gender sentiment or political exhibition. It is a fulfilment of the words of God. In the Quran chapter 65 V 6, Allah says; Lodge them where you dwell, according to your means, and do not treat them in such a harmful way that they be obliged to leave. And if they are pregnant, then spend on them till they deliver. Then if they suck to the children for you, give them their due payment, and let each of you accept the advice of the other in a just way..... This is similar in the bible, Ephesians 5 vs 28 which reads So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loveth his wife loveth himself Some Ifa verses also attest to this in the Yoruba traditional history. These verses are why erelu will insist on respect for women dignity by their husbands. Women are the navel of any home. Placing importance on them as being done by Ochiorah, is understandable. Erelu, just like Hillary Rodham Clinton, is a formidable pillar behind her husband. She is giving Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the necessary supports he needed to move Ekiti forward. Her school of politics is with a difference Her unharmful swagger is uncommon. She carries out her activities with unrivalled panache. Mrs Fayemi has assured me that if we vote her husband for the second time, we will all reap the benefit more than what we have seen in just three years. She said kese-kese lati ri kasa-kasa nbo lona Since aunty Bisi Fayemi became the first lady, she has done a lot to change the life of women and children in Ekiti, Nigeria and the world in general. How many of her achievements do I need to list? All we can do is to thank her for the ways she have been touching the lives of the poor, especially women in Ekiti state. I urge all Ekiti sons and daughters to support the Ekiti Development Foundation so that more helps can go round to our people. Thank you Erelu. Thank you our Ochiorah. May God bless you. Akeem Bello omo Olusu aroguro be omo olugba elila okesa okan di an ni be an rakan ni si okan le an nibe a pakan ni je writes from Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 19:38:28 +0000