When Women were barred from entering the Church in Nassarawa state.

Nigerian journalist in Benue narrates how women were barred from entering the church , he was on the entourage of the governor.Please read.

Since ma birth as a Catholic and a mass servant and later Rev. Father's House boy, at the Saint  Anne's Catholic Church, Adikpo, the Saturday of may, 21, 2016  would continue to be strange day to me. 

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That was the day scheduled for the burial of a high ranking Catholic, a traditional Ruler who also lived his life as a Catholic nd a knight of Saint Mulumba, His Royal Highness, The Osana of Keana, Emmanuel Elayo in Nasarawa  state.
It started in Lafia where his first requiem service was preceded by over thirty priests, led by the Bishop of the diocese. The Bishop in his announcement, appealed to mourners, especially the female to strictly adhere to the  rights and traditions  of the Keana  Trading councils  where women are not allowed to see the corpse of a dead chief.
The announcement  was again made before the commencement of the church service  by the priest in charge of Saint John's parish, Rev Father Luga,. This announcement however did not go down well with many of the affected  females especially the four Reverend Sisters, but ma attention was on one particular  Sister that openly showed her vex over d announcement, saying " what a stupid tradition" that she was not going anywhere.  It took ma intervention and that of the senior of them all,  I presume, before she finally left the seat.  

 I have to write this because, as one of the member of the Govt. Media Crew and with Governor Samuel Ortom  in attendance  in company of his Deputy, Benson Abounu and other government functionaries, I took ma time to witness every bit of what transpired. 

The end result was that, the instructions were carried out, but the only woman who enjoyed little of that privilege was the wife to the late chief but she was however  moved from the front seat  where she sat, looking at her husband's casket to the last bench at the back of the church. Hmmmmm, small relief for grudging female group. Human/woman rights.
I also understand too well that, the late Emmanuel Elayo was the man that ensured the establishment of strong Catholic Base in Keana and the first Christian to be the chief of Keana. @I also took statistics of ma brothers and sisters  which gave me another big surprise, which at every point I had to greet, Ne nder ve?. After the service nd the departure of everyone in the church, the corpse  was let in   under lock and key with guards everywhere. Further investigation proved that  it would be taken out for burial at about 10pm that day.
My final conclusion there for is that, Governor Ortom's appearance and Senator Akumes, shows that it is the good intention Of the every leadership of Benue government to encourage peaceful coexistence  between Benue and Nasarawa States.  Iam tempted to say that if Nasarawa people would show little commitment  to the love for Tiv man, no evil intent would rise to the level of high destruction of lives and property but rather it would from a formidable political power block in the middle belt where final political decisions would b taken to unite Nigeria. That's ma weekend experience as a first time and visitor to Keana. PEACE 2 ALL.

Frank Ihyundu