PRESS RELEASE

Aba, October 25, 2008

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS WARN OF DIRE CONSEQUENCIES OF MISRULE AND CONTINUED MARGINALIZATION OF WOMEN AND THE VULNERABLE IN NIGERIA BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY

For Immediate Release

In spite of enormous human and material resources that Nigeria is endowed with, poverty, disease and illiteracy still pervade the geo- political landscape of the nation. Our macro economic indicators are not in congruent with the socio economic reality on the ground. The pace of our movement towards the actualization of the Millennium Development Goals target set for 2015 is less than satisfactory.

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The prevailing high rate of maternal and infant mortality from preventable causes, many children of school age missing out on quality and basic education, high crime rate and gangsterism, separatist agitation and restiveness and many more alike continues to be a major concern.

According to Godson Ibekwe-Umelo of Centre for Popular Participation and Local Initiatives, ‘the economic, political and social problems confronting our nation Nigeria is a direct outcome of the structural distortions and contradictions inherent in the political economy of the nation founded on exploitation and exclusion’. Until the polity evolved a political and economic system that is participatory, transparent and accountable, and holistically address the needs of the majority, real peace and development will continue to elude us.

In an effort to stimulate intellectual consciousness and discourse on the problem with Nigeria and profer possible alternatives, civil society groups led by Popular Participation Front is organizing a one day Town hall meeting for the commemoration of Aba Women Riot of 1929.

Some of the highlights of the event are:

For more information, please contact the following: Chidi Nwosu 08035056312, Emeka Ogbonna 08037124322