The National Conference on Thursday in Abuja ordered security operatives to eject the immediate past President of the National Association of Women Journalists, Hajia Asabe Baba-Nahaya, out of the plenary over what it termed “security breach”.
The action followed an altercation Baba-Nahaya had with Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), a delegate representing Elder Statesmen, during plenary.
Ahamba had raised an observation: “A lady is sitting near us here sir.
“She has no tag.
“I told her that since she has no tag and she said she is a member, she should go to her location.
“People will know her there that she’s a member, but she’s answering me in a very rude manner.
“This is a security situation sir.
“My lord, she has no tag and she should leave this location or go to her seat.”
In her response, Baba-Nahaya described Ahamba’s remarks as irresponsible.
She said: “This is the highest sense of irresponsibility, I am sorry to say.
“You cannot just look at me and say that you don’t recognise me and you don’t know me.
“What about those people that are seated here?
“Ask them if they can identify me or not.
“So, I cannot go to any angle in the room or what?”
In his position, the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi urged the ex-NAWOJ leader to go to the seat that had her tag.
Akinyemi said: “Our rule is clear: Members should sit in the seat allocated to them.
“That is simple.
“So madam delegate, go to the seat allocated to you.”
But Baba-Nahaya resisted and insisted she was not leaving the seat in spite of entreaties from fellow women delegates to go to her seat.
Subsequently, Akinyemi also asked for her to produce her tag but she could not produce it.
He said: “Where is her tag?
“Please, we don’t seem to be taking the question of our security seriously.
“If the rule says delegates should wear their tags, then they must wear their tags.
“If you make an exception, the next time somebody who is not a delegate comes up, it creates problem for security.
“So, please if you (Baba-Nahaya) don’t have your tag on, I really must ask you to leave the hall.
“It is for the security of everybody.
“Please, this is important.”
At this point, security operatives approached Baba-Nahaya and took her out of the conference room with slight protest from some women delegates.
After calm was restored, Prof Auwalu Yadudu observed that many delegates were disrespectful to the rules of the conference and commended the leadership for calling the ex-NAWOJ president to order.
Yadudu, however, observed that Baba-Nahaya should not have been humiliated as many delegates did not sit on their seats and sometimes forgot their tags.
However, Abubakar Jijiwa countered Yadudu, saying his observation was unnecessary and that the rule of the conference should always be applied.
Jijiwa said: “Please, there should be no sentiments expressed here.
“I’ve had cause to return home sometimes to take my tag when I forgot it.”
Josephine Anenih apologised on behalf of Baba-Nahaya, saying she was confused as some delegates asked her to stay while others asked to go out.
Anenih said: “Asabe was actually not disrespectful, but she was confused.
“On her behalf and all women delegates, I apologise to the chairman.”
In his response, Akinyemi said he did not think what the leadership did was wrong.
He said: “The chairman is not protecting this seat.
“What he is protecting is the security of all of us.
“God forbid, if something has happened security-wise, people will say but they told you people.”
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