By Adie Jeremiah
In 1976, Obudu was created from the old Ogoja Province as an autonomous Local Government Area. Thereafter, the name “Obudu” metamorphosed from just a people to a brand that is synonymous with tourism, warmth, hospitality, and culture.
Like many other sons and daughters of Obudu, it is interesting to see how strong Obudu has grown from a community to a society with greater ideals and purpose. A society united in one love and shared prosperity.
Sadly, with the successes recorded so far, the Local Government Area still needs to connect the lines in terms of gender balancing and equitable power distribution. Well, all hopes are not lost. The forthcoming Local Government Election in Obudu LGA affords us an opportunity to fix this sad reoccurring happening.
Gender balancing is crucial in measuring a society’s exposure, growth, and willingness to embrace global developmental trends. Goal 5 on the United Nation’s SDG goals is clear and precise “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls”. This goal is self-explanatory and is required of every modern society.
It is worrying to note that the last time Obudu produced a Local Government Chairman was in 2004, in the person of Cecilia Ally from the Utugwang block. It is really sad that since our former Honourable Chairman left office in 2007, Obudu is yet to produce another female Chairman. That is 20 years gone already with 4 Local Government Chairman, all men emerging thereafter.
Obudu needs a female chairman who is calm, calculated, exposed, and intelligent to steer the affairs of the Local Government Council. Obudu needs a neutral person who will serve all irrespective of whatever political camp one aligns with. We don’t need someone who will serve the interest of a few, remembering where he/she came from.
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It is time to show the world the level of civilisation we have attained as a people and we can only do that by supporting, endorsing and practicing the goal 5 of the SDGs of the United Nations, which charges us to support the girl child. We have to show to the world that here, we support our women, and we offer them equal opportunities like the men.
This election will show to the world what we really stand for. We all have to appeal to our consciences to also give our women the chance to run the affairs of the council after a very long time.
