ESE ORURU: OTHERS LIKE HER

Written on March 14, 2016

I just got to know about Ese Oruru on Sunday and started following the news on her since then. I listened with dismay this morning when a journalist asked her father on live radio if there was no love relationship between her abductor and her before his colleague rephrased the question. This is disheartening because I heard the father maintained that her breasts were yet to be visible (meaning she has not reached puberty)

Some persons are awashed with how she eloped with her supposed abductor. Her father said the abductor was a regular customer to her mother's shop just like some others. Some media claimed that she said she does not want to go back to her parents house that she claims to like where she is.

Assuming it was an elopement. At 13, 14, 16 & 17 (based on what some media were reporting) years old, she is still a minor. She still needs parental consent to marry in courts or customarily. Since she was married in the Islamic laws, does Islam ask brides to be given out in marriage without parental consents?

My questions are: what is the story of her other siblings who were with her in their mother's shop during her abduction while their mother went to the market? In the case of elopement, did the mother not notice anything like gifts or tips from abductor? Was Ese the one who serves her abductor most times he comes to buy food? Has she ever visited him with or without their knowledge and consent? Why did the media keep quiet about this issue until now since this happened in August? Why did the police say it was in the Emir's hands to secure her release? Is the Kano emirate not part of Nigeria? Is the Kano emirate an embassy? Are they not governed by the Nigerian constitution?

I earnestly wait for when people in authority will take their jobs seriously and take responsibilities for their actions. When you get hitches from "the powers that be" use the press to untie their hands. Our uniformed personnel should stop being judgmental about victims of circumstances. Do your jobs by enforcing the law. Nobody has the rights to deprive another his or her rights and freedom no matter the circumstance. Let the things enshrined in our constitution be followed.

Thanks to child protection network and others who fought this battle until it was won.

YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE AND SAGGING FASHION

Sagging as a part of fashion has to do with letting a piece of clothing down the normal waist line or making it loose instead of fitting. It is usually low enough to reveal under wears. On the other hand, youthful exuberance deals with all the excitements that come with growing up. Young people while growing up indulge in a lot of activities that catch their fancy. One of these activities is fashion. Their expressions are often showcased in their fashion which reflects their thoughts and feelings.

Being a young person does not mean that one should go with just any trend en vogue as regards to fashion. It is important to wear what one feels comfortable in while taking decency into cognizance. Often times people are addressed the wear the dress. Being trendy in fashion requires that one should understand what the style is about and to know if it fits.

However, in our society today, there are different fashion styles that are en vogue. Young people are usually at the fore front of different fashion styles. Sagging is a prominent fashion style amongst young people. Some of the celebrities in different societies also sag. These include footballers, movie stars and musicians (hip hop and rappers). Some of these young people look up to these celebrities as their role models. This makes them to also want to dress like them.

Taking a look at the history of sagging, one wonders why it should be a fashion style that the youths will imbibe. Sagging originated from United States prison inmates. Prisoners were given over sized uniforms because they have already been sown prior to their incarcerations without measuring them which are usually loose on them. They were not allowed to use belts on these uniforms. Belts were used as weapons during fights or to hang others and for suicide. Due to increase in the casualties during fights among the inmates, there was prohibition on the use of belts among the prison inmates. Subsequently, sagging became a fashion statement in the 1990s for rappers and hip hop artists. Sagging is not only a fashion statement for males, some women also sag.

Among many young people, sagging has become a symbol of freedom and awareness. It is a symbol of their rejection of the values of mainstream society. Some states in the United States banned wearing of trousers that are below the waist that reveals under wears. There have been campaigns organised by different groups against sagging. These are aimed at the restoration of societal values among young people. It should be a collective effort for everyone to correct young people who sag to help them learn values that are used to build a lasting society. Sagging does not portray any sense of decency.

Having known this, it is not out of place to ask if people who sag know the history of sagging or the reasons they sag. The celebrities who sag are not left out in trying to understand the reasons behind their actions. Maybe a sort of fine should be placed on those who sag. This may enable young people who sag to refrain from doing so. Young people should be properly nurtured so that youthful exuberance will not cause them to do things that are contrary to societal norms and values.

MY OWN LIST FOR APPOINTMENTS

In a country like Nigeria where irregularities seem to be a free for all thing, elections are not left out. Elections are around the corner and people are jostling for different positions. These positions include ministerial at the National level and commissioners at the state levels, ambassadorial, special assistants, special advisers etc. in a bid to achieve their aims, some of ‘our brothers and sisters’ can go to any length in singing praises of anybody that has the necessary tools for sustainability irrespective of how terrible the fellow has been in times past or presently.

Yours truly also has her own list of people for appointment. This list can only be effective with IBB as the (civilian) president. The last time I checked he was a military president.

Chief M. K. O. Abiola – Vice President

Dele Giwa – Special Adviser on Media Matters

Gen. Vasta – National Security Adviser

Kudirat Abiola – Minister for Women Affairs

Dr Beko Ransome Kuti – Minister of Health

Fela Anikpola Kuti – Minister of Culture and National Orientation

Chuma Ubani – National Adviser on Human Rights

Gloria Okon – First Lady or Minister for Internal Affairs (He needs to remarry so the Position of First Lady will not be vacant).