Nigeria - the thoughts of a Nigerian Member of A Ray of Hope

On the 3rd November 2008 on Muhri Okunola Street, Victoria Island Lagos, the traffic was chaotic. A young lady (Uzoma Okere) driving home from work didn't move her vehicle out of the way of a military convoy on time, resulting in a severe beating by armed Nigerian Navy men. The convoy consisted of Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade's personal Navy saloon car and his pilot truck, consisting of 6 armed bodyguards. The body guards in the process physically beat up several Price Water House Coopers staff and destroyed cameras that were filming the event as it unfolded.

Women are victims of violence in Nigeria everyday and there is little done to curb the trend. The Nigerian constitution allowed (I need to check the current one) a man to beat his wife, as far as she did not stay in the hospital for more than 21 days. So crying to the authorities about violence against women, does not help. Maybe women should start to carry guns to protect themselves, at least, then it will be a fair fight.

I am so outraged because this could have been me.

Nigeria seems to be a barbaric State and I am so disappointed in a society that has raised men to believe they are superior beings to every woman.

We need a Nigeria in which every man, woman and child can freely talk, walk, and co-habit. One Nigeria that every Nigerian, home and abroad, would be happy to call home.

In Northern Ireland for many years we suffered at the hands of armchair critics living outside our country. If we did not understand our problems then no one could ever add anything to solve our situation from overseas. It is therefore inappropriate for us to place value judgements however we can appreciate the sentiments of native Nigerians. We can promote their desires for a land of peace and equality - and recognising the importance of the image of Nigeria in the world hope that the President ensures incidents like this do nothing to tarnish the true potential of all that is good in Nigeria.