Eikojonwa Tavershima, daughter of the late Salome Abuh, the Kogi Women Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was burnt to death, has decried the manner of her mother’s murder, describing it as uncalled for.
Tavershima stated this during an interview with journalists on Friday after some Nigerian women led by Abiola Akiyode–Afolabi, Convener of ‘Womanifesto’ and Executive Director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, to protest against the violence against women ar the Ministry of Women Affairs, Abuja.
Abuh was killed after he house was set ablaze by suspected political thugs few hours after Governor Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the November 16 governorship election.
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The bereaved Tavershima explained that her relatives could only discover the skull and ashes of her late mother after the incident, adding that she was killed at her family house.
The visibly devastated daughter called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to find the culprits and ensure that justice is provided for her late mother as well as her entire family.
She said: “I really sincerely from the depth of our heart appreciate what the women are doing. A lot of them have not met my mother physically. But I see the passion from the way they are all out here crying out for ‘Justice for Salome.’
“Indeed she is my mother and she deserves this (the protest march). The way she died was uncalled for and I pray that justice be given to this women for the sake of late Salome.
“We were not there (when she was killed). She was in our family house in the village. But all I was told was that the family house was set on fire and when we asked about her, they said nobody can tell. They only found a burnt skull with ashes there.
“My mum was full of life and agile. She could be physically a woman but she was 10 men in a woman. She was a hospitable woman and lively. She was a mobiliser. She was a women leader for the PDP and she stood for PDP all the while. President Muhammadu Buhari, please arise for us. Don’t be comfortable on your seat. Let there be justice for Salome Abuh and the entire Abuh family.”
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Also speaking, Akiyode–Afolabi stated that the right of women in Nigeria has been neglected for long.
She added that the essence of their protest march was to present the recommendations arising from the three-day deliberations on women issues in the country and seek justice for the killing of Abuh.
She said: “For the past three days, we gathered at the National Centre for Women Development to deliberate on the issue of women. For those three days, women from all walks of life looked at five issues; violence against women, women political participation, women peace and security, sexual and reproductive right as well as women and poverty.’’
Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, who received the protesters, stated that the President was worried over the violence that trailed the Kogi governorship poll, leading to Abuh’s death.
The minister assured the protesters that she will relay their messages, including a letter submitted, to President Buhari.
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