That Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suffered a catastrophic collapse in fortunes in the last two weeks, is to repeat the obvious. For him, the journey from the $3,000 a night suite at the Sofitel, to the first-class compartment of a Paris bound Air France jet, to the notorious Rikers Island jail in New York probably happened in a blur, but spending a night at an isolated wing of the jail must have jolted him back to reality.
His bail conditions include a deposit of $1 million cash and $5 million in bonds. He also has to wear an electronic tag and is confined to an apartment in downtown Manhattan. To think that he is yet to face the trial that will determine his innocence or guilt! If he is eventually found innocent, his entire life's work and reputation may have been irretrievably damaged.
But the issue today is not about Dominique Strauss-Kahn or the IMF - the history of emerging economies like Nigeria and the IMF has not been a pleasant one, despite recent rapprochement. The issue today is the African woman, as represented by Nafissatou Diallo, the African immigrant from Guinea and single mother at the heart of the allegations against Strauss-Kahn.
The immediate questions that come to mind are: what if the alleged incident happened not in far away New York, but in a hotel in Africa? Would she have had the courage to report the incident? Would her employers have silenced her? Would the police believe her? And would the police have charged into the first-class compartment of a plane that was minutes from taking off to arrest one of the most powerful men in the world? Would the government of any African country proceed with the prosecution of such a powerful man? And would the allegations have come to light?
If the alleged event had happened in, say, Trancorp Hilton in Abuja, and the woman in question, a Nigerian, Strauss-Kahn would probably have had his way and that would be the end of the matter; another easy conquest. The woman would probably not want to risk her job by creating a scene or reporting to the hotel management. And if she had, the management would have set up a committee to look into her allegations.
It is debatable if the management would have had the prudence to report the matter to the police and risk embarrassing such a valuable guest. Nor are we sure that the police would be able to pluck him out of his plane and detain him. In all likelihood, Strauss-Kahn would have left the country, leaving behind a traumatized victim of sexual abuse, unable to voice out the assault, or any one to believe her. She would have had to live with the experience for life.
But beyond the exploitation and psychological trauma they often live with, the economic conditions of most African women have hardly improved. I recently witnessed women struggling to buy kerosene at an NNPC mega station. It was almost a battle of life and death as young girls and women struggled with hefty men to buy kerosene in gallons and jerry cans. In rural areas, they roam bushes to gather wood for cooking; in urban areas, they struggle with ‘area boys' and black marketers for kerosene.
Scarcity and the subsequent search for water is another difficulty that subjects women and young girls to a life of drudgery. It is estimated that women in Africa spend a significant part of their lives fetching wood or fetching water. In rural areas, they often walk miles to get a pail of water; in urban and semi-urban areas, they battle it out with water vendors, or buy water with meager resources.
The crux of the matter is, while ‘Dame' Patience Jonathan, Josephine Anenih, Inna Ciroma and gender activists are making an issue of 35 percent representation for women in public offices (obviously starting with the federal executive council), majority of women in Nigeria still live and die in poverty. Girl-child enrolment in schools is still significantly lower than that of boys. Life for ‘my fellow widows' (apologies to the Dame) is better imagined because cultural practices almost criminalize a woman outliving her husband. Opportunities in education, government, business and other sectors are still limited.
For this impoverished majority, the issue at stake is not about an invitation to the billion naira inauguration banquet or 35 percent of anything. The issue is extreme poverty and powerlessness. For them, the breath of fresh air is still very far away.
His bail conditions include a deposit of $1 million cash and $5 million in bonds. He also has to wear an electronic tag and is confined to an apartment in downtown Manhattan. To think that he is yet to face the trial that will determine his innocence or guilt! If he is eventually found innocent, his entire life's work and reputation may have been irretrievably damaged.
But the issue today is not about Dominique Strauss-Kahn or the IMF - the history of emerging economies like Nigeria and the IMF has not been a pleasant one, despite recent rapprochement. The issue today is the African woman, as represented by Nafissatou Diallo, the African immigrant from Guinea and single mother at the heart of the allegations against Strauss-Kahn.
The immediate questions that come to mind are: what if the alleged incident happened not in far away New York, but in a hotel in Africa? Would she have had the courage to report the incident? Would her employers have silenced her? Would the police believe her? And would the police have charged into the first-class compartment of a plane that was minutes from taking off to arrest one of the most powerful men in the world? Would the government of any African country proceed with the prosecution of such a powerful man? And would the allegations have come to light?
If the alleged event had happened in, say, Trancorp Hilton in Abuja, and the woman in question, a Nigerian, Strauss-Kahn would probably have had his way and that would be the end of the matter; another easy conquest. The woman would probably not want to risk her job by creating a scene or reporting to the hotel management. And if she had, the management would have set up a committee to look into her allegations.
It is debatable if the management would have had the prudence to report the matter to the police and risk embarrassing such a valuable guest. Nor are we sure that the police would be able to pluck him out of his plane and detain him. In all likelihood, Strauss-Kahn would have left the country, leaving behind a traumatized victim of sexual abuse, unable to voice out the assault, or any one to believe her. She would have had to live with the experience for life.
But beyond the exploitation and psychological trauma they often live with, the economic conditions of most African women have hardly improved. I recently witnessed women struggling to buy kerosene at an NNPC mega station. It was almost a battle of life and death as young girls and women struggled with hefty men to buy kerosene in gallons and jerry cans. In rural areas, they roam bushes to gather wood for cooking; in urban areas, they struggle with ‘area boys' and black marketers for kerosene.
Scarcity and the subsequent search for water is another difficulty that subjects women and young girls to a life of drudgery. It is estimated that women in Africa spend a significant part of their lives fetching wood or fetching water. In rural areas, they often walk miles to get a pail of water; in urban and semi-urban areas, they battle it out with water vendors, or buy water with meager resources.
The crux of the matter is, while ‘Dame' Patience Jonathan, Josephine Anenih, Inna Ciroma and gender activists are making an issue of 35 percent representation for women in public offices (obviously starting with the federal executive council), majority of women in Nigeria still live and die in poverty. Girl-child enrolment in schools is still significantly lower than that of boys. Life for ‘my fellow widows' (apologies to the Dame) is better imagined because cultural practices almost criminalize a woman outliving her husband. Opportunities in education, government, business and other sectors are still limited.
For this impoverished majority, the issue at stake is not about an invitation to the billion naira inauguration banquet or 35 percent of anything. The issue is extreme poverty and powerlessness. For them, the breath of fresh air is still very far away.
Thank you so much for sharing your reflection!
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