The immediate past President of National Association of Women Journalists, Asabe Baba was humiliated on Thursday when the Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi walked her out of the conference for misconduct.
Baba, a delegate from Gombe State representing NAWOJ at the conference had left her seat for another when another delegate, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), unsure of her identity, raised an alarm.
Ahamba said that “Chairman, there is a woman sitting here. She is not a delegate. She has no name and tag to identify her,” stressing that it was a security risk, more so, when she veiled her face.
He said that she could not be identified as a delegate and if she was one, she should go to her seat rather than occupying another person’s seat.
Provoked, Baba, reacted by saying that Ahamba’s statement was irresponsible. “This is the height of irresponsibility. Is it because I am wearing a veil?” she asked.
The development attracted the conference’s attention and the shouts of “it is enough” rent the air. But Ahamba wouldn’t give up as he insisted that the woman should go to her seat.
At this point, the Vice Chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who was in-charge of proceeding directed her to obey the rules of the conference, get her tags or leave the hall.
A little hesitation on Baba’s path to obey the instruction prompted the leadership to call in two police officers to escort her to the door.
Baba, who had returned to her designated seat at this time, however, sat tight on her seat until some intervention came from some delegates especially the women, who encouraged her to obey the instructions.
When calm finally returned, Professor Akinyemi insisted that the rules must be followed.
Speaking shortly afterwards, another delegate, Professor Auwalu Yadudu regretted the treatment meted to Baba, saying that her movement to another seat was a common thing among delegates.
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