Today is her birthday. She takes no prisoners when it comes to issues that affect the lives and circumstances of Nigerians, especially, her native Niger Delta region, moreso, womenfolk. She brooks no injustice and will always speak out against any form of discrimination and won’t mind whose ox is gored. So, it was when the news broke that controversies were being raised about the nomination and subsequent confirmation of Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe for ambassadorial position from her husband’s home, Ondo State.

Celebrated Activist and Convener, Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement (NDSDM), Annkio Briggs spoke to Kristina Reports Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Godswill Jumbo, over the phone and dissecting the question as what the real issues should be whenever a woman is called upon to serve in whatever capacity whether by community or country. Enjoy the enthralling excerpts:

Kristina Reports: Recently, a newspaper carried the news report of controversy arising from the nomination of Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe for ambassadorial position, what do you make of this? 

On the 3rd of July 2020, l read as many others did the feature in Punch Newspaper “Controversy As Buhari Gives Ondo Ambassador Slot to Rivers Indigene”. No doubt, my attention was caught and as l read l noticed an error in the first sentence. Abonnema is not a local government but the capital of Akuku-Toru LGA, popularly called AKULGA. According to the report in Punch Newspaper, Mrs. Opunimi Akinkugbe was listed under Ondo State on the list announced by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan on Wednesday.

Firstly, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe is an indigene of Abonnema but have lived in Western Nigeria more than she has lived in Rivers State. Secondly, she is married to Yinka Akinkugbe, an indigene of Ondo State. They have three children who are of two ethnic nationalities of Nigeria but are indigenes of Ondo State and l hope one day can, if they choose to, claim their Rivers State and Ijaw indigenous rights as they are children of Rivers and Ondo States. Thirdly, while Nimi Akinkugbe is not an indigene of Ondo State, her husband, Yinka Akinkugbe is an Indigene of Ondo State. She would not have been nominated for any political appointment as a Rivers State indigene under Ondo State slot if she is not married to an Ondo State son, Yinka Akinkugbe. The opportunity to serve the state she is married into is the choice of the people of Ondo State. I do not doubt that there maybe or there are sons and daughters of Ondo State who are just as qualified as Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe in Ondo State to serve in their slot. Surely, the benefits of her ambassadorial service will not come to Rivers State. It will be credited to her state of marriage.

Then, fourthly, I contribute as an indigene of Rivers State on this topic that looks at the rights of women in marriage. Given that women are denied equal participation in politics and other rights, therefore, it will be comforting to women today and in the future that either in their  state of origin or in the state they marry into they will be welcomed, accommodated and judged as human beings and not for gender alone. If Mrs. Akinkugbe is worthy to be married into an Ondo family surely she is worthy to serve her husband’s people, but the final say must rest with the Government and people of Ondo State. Sadly, if the roles were reversed l have no doubt that some from my State will find it offensive too.

This is one of the very critical reasons why the peoples of the different ethnic nationalities must make the changes that is needed in Nigeria for equity and justice. The changes we need should be made based on what the people say is in their best interest and not what leaders of any political parties claim is in our best interest. Mrs. Opunimi Akinkugbe is one of the stars from my community, Abonnema in Rivers State. I want to believe, therefore, the people of Ondo State do see her as a star of Ondo State too. I wish the people of Ondo State and their wife, a daughter of Abonnema, will amicably resolve this situation in the interest of Ondo people.

In your earlier response to our enquiry you raised the question: “IS A WOMAN’S VALUE CALCULATED ONLY AS A WIFE and MOTHER? WHAT OF HER CAPACITY TO SERVE AND CONTRIBUTE IN NATION BUILDING?

It is unfortunate some say a woman cannot serve as a political leader or as a political appointee in her state of marriage. Does the law say so? They have reacted in this manner because it is a political appointment. This is politics in Nigeria. The appointment is not a Rivers State appointment. She was nominated and now appointed by the Ondo State Government because she is married to an Ondo State indigene.  

Yes, Sure.

I believe she was appointed because she can serve the government and the good people of Ondo State. It is wonderful to hear that her appointment as an ambassador has been confirmed by the Senate. This is a confirmation that she can participate in nation building as an Ondo State nominee. The people of Ondo State have come to the frontline of women’s rights that women who marry outside their state of origin can participate in nation building no matter where they are married into and I commend the government and the good people of Ondo State for this. The Ondo people by allowing this appointment of a woman married to their son to represent them is very affirmative to the rights of women.

But what can you say about Nimi and her background?

The Akinkugbe family is a very prominent family in Ondo State and in Yoruba land. So is the Ajumogobia family in Kalabari Kingdom and Rivers State. She has a background and pedigree in which she can serve either in nation building. Nimi is a very established lady in the banking sector.

As a strong advocate of structured nationhood whose voice has reverberated across the world on issues of federalism, the building blocks of our nationhood in Nigeria, if we are still having this discussion as per where a woman comes from when it comes to her nation calling her to come and serve in whatever capacity about 60 years after independence, does it imply that our national life, our nationhood, in terms of the structures that make us the people that we are; are we getting stronger or we are at the very weakest of our strength?

We are at the very weakest of our strength because we are putting cultural issues before nation building. Everybody’s culture is who he is, but if your culture is holds you back from progressing, you drop it. We should not allow our culture to determine our progress in the world and in nation building. This is what makes politics to question the value of a woman. Like the President Buhari of Nigeria stating in an international forum that his wife belongs to the other room. This is cultural and it is his religion questioning the role of a woman in politics. Incidentally, the woman standing next to him is the Chancellor of one of the most powerful countries in the world and she is a woman. This is why I say we must make cultural changes that will move us forward. The different cultures of Nigeria, if they draw us back from nation building, we must choose to change them.