A professor of Art and Anthropology at Imo State University, Owerri, Francis Nnamdi Ikwuegbu, has commended Abia State governor, Alex Otti, for his thoughtfulness in immortalising the women who fought against the oppressive colonial administration in eastern Nigeria in 1929.
The protest, dubbed the Aba Women’s Riot was a historic uprising against colonial taxation and the warrant chiefs who lorded it over Igbo women in the pre-independence era.
Although the protest, involving thousands of women who fearlessly thronged the streets, started in Aba, it later spread to Imo and other neighbouring states in what is now south-eastern Nigeria.
Some of the main participants included Ikonnia, Wugo and Wanannedia. These three women are remembered for their leadership, organisational and persuasive efforts during the protests.
Ikwuegbu, a teacher, sculptor and anthropologist, stated: “I applaud the Executive Governor of Abia State for his thoughtfulness and sterling leadership qualities.
“However, one or two things that were not taken into consideration would have helped the work a great deal: the actions that would have given it bite were missing from the narration, and the women’s mystical toughness and physical ruggedness were not captured in the statues.
“They seized guns from their attackers and broke them with their bare hands, while every effort made by the colonialists and their army to bring them down failed, as the bullets did not penetrate,” Ikwuegbu added.
The imposing sculpture is erected at the Azikiwe/Asa Road junction in the commercial city of Aba.