1929 women riot: Senator to immortalise slain women 83 years after

Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Helen Esuene, is to immortalise slain women who fought against the imposition of taxation policy in the women’s riot of 1929. 

Senator Esuene, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Women and Youth Development, said a memorial hall would be constructed in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State as a memorial for the deceased women who died in the 1929 massacre, 83 years after. 

The senator stated this while interacting with her constituents in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. 

She stated that the project when completed would serve as a remembrance of the

women’s struggle for freedom. 

 She explained that the memorial hall would also serve as a tourist centre that can generate revenue to the state. 

He words; “The building will be a befitting one to correct the erroneous impression captured in history books that the protest was in Aba, in the present Abia state whereas the riot started in Ikot Abasi and many women of the present day Akwa Ibom state died in the course of that riot against women taxation by the colonial masters.” 

The Senator hinted that besides her building of the women memorial hall, she intends to build classroom blocks with solar powered borehole and street lights as part of her constituency projects in Urue Offong Oruko and Udung Uko local government areas.

Other projects according to Senator Esuene, which she intends to execute within the year, include a mini oil palm mill to be located in Esit Eket and iron Factory building in Eket.

The senator told the mammoth crowd that the near collapsed road in Iquita, Oron local government area, which was affected by erosion, has been included in the NDDC 2011 budgets for rehabilitation.

Under the same plan, Ikot Abia- Ndiya road in Mkpat Enin local Government Area which was established by the colonial masters and abandoned over the years would also enjoy construction in the NDDC budget for 2011.

On the proposed constitution amendment, Esuene called on members of her constituency to participate in national politics by sending their contributions by way of memoranda to the ad-hoc committee on constitution review. 

In her view, this was an opportunity for them to let their views known on issues affecting the country.