Ali vs Nwaoboshi: Protesting women cripple Asaba

Hundreds of Asaba women, including members of the Market Women Association, Women In Politics and civil servants, trooped to the streets of the Delta State capital, protesting the alleged ill-treatment against the wife of Dr. Ahmadu Ali, the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mariam Ali.
The women, who alleged that the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, committed violence against a member of their folk, threatened to rain curses on him if he fails to tender unreserved apology.
The protesters besieged the Government House, Asaba, chanting war songs and carrying placards of various inscriptions, including: “Real Men Hate Violence Against Women.”
They wondered why Nwaoboshi descended so low as to physically beat up Ali before ordering his “boys” to assist him.
At the Asagba of Asaba’s Palace, the protesters told Obi Chike Edozien: “It is with great sadness and shock that we bring the beating of our sister, daughter, the mother, wife and an Asaba High Chief to your notice.”
Led by a member of the Victorious Women In Politics, Hon. Nwakewe Bridget, the women also wondered why Nwaoboshi deliberately committed “a taboo of monumental proportion” not only against a legally married woman from Asaba, but a High Chief of great esteem – the Eyi Kpakpando of Ahaba.
According to the women, should their complaint not be received under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, more of such should be expected from the men folk.
They said: “To fail to do something is to embolden some of these rascals in our community under the cover of politics to lay siege on us….
“Who knows who Mr. Peter Nwaoboshi will beat next in Asaba if he is not properly sanctioned.”
The women, who vowed to cripple Nwaoboshi’s ambition to unseat the incumbent Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health and a governorship hopeful of the state next year, said they would not rest until those who joined to perpetuate the “heinous act” are brought to justice.
Nwaoboshi is currently jostling for the Delta North Senatorial District’s seat in 2015, a position Ali vied for in 2007 and 2011 but lost.
Clash of interest recently pitched Nwaoboshi against Ali, who were two jolly friends before now.
Their enmity assumed a dangerous dimension last week Friday when Ali allegedly slapped Nwaoboshi several times over a seat reserved for Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), at the party’s secretariat during a stakeholders’ meeting of the party.