From available records, Nigeria has been a rich and unblemished society with rich cultures and morals to the envy of not only the black race but the whole world.
The rich culture transcends food, dressing and even behaviours in public places. One can remember vividly that there is an extent to which a man can shake a married woman, beyond which attracts fines or a form of sanction for the man or the married woman. This and more prevailed in the Nigerian society, and society was safe, sane and better to live in.
Regrettably, due to the so-called civilisations and urbanisation, the rich cultures started giving way to Western culture, and the mixture of the two cultures introduced a mixed culture unknown to the people, and thus, there was chaos.
Recently, in a decisive effort to preserve their cultural values and promote moral discipline, the women of Ujevwe Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State declared their commitment to a community-wide sensitisation campaign.
According to the report, the initiative, spearheaded by the Ewheya Women Council, is primarily targeted at married women who have deviated from traditional norms under the influence of modern fashion trends.
In a statement, the Ewheya warned against married women wearing tight leggings or revealing outfits. Under the new directive, any married woman found or seen wearing clothing considered to be tight or exposing sensitive parts of the body in public will pay a fine of 50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira)
Similarly, women who appear in extremely short skirts that expose undergarments, particularly when seated in public, would be sanctioned, and such offenders will pay a N25,000 fine and provide bottles of hot drinks to the Ewheya as part of a public act of contribution. The women’s council also cautioned that the common practice of using a handkerchief to feign decency would no longer be tolerated.
In addition, the Ewheya introduced what they described as a stricter measure on any married woman caught shaking hands with a man in a manner considered flirtatious or disrespectful to her marital status, as such an offender will face a fine of N20,000.
The Council described such behaviour as a violation of material values and vowed to curb it. The women’s group also announced penalties for cases involving marital deception and that any woman who bore children at a young age but later attempted to pass off the children as hers despite contrary evidence will be fined N250,000 and be subjected to further disciplinary action as determined by the women’s council.
Re-affirming their commitment to safeguarding the cultural integrity of the Ujevwe Kingdom, the women urged residents to support the ongoing moral sanitation of society. They also called on the traditional rulers, youths, and religious bodies to collaborate in upholding community values and ensuring that the community continues to maintain the dignity and honour of their heritage.
Lifestyle went to town to talk to a cross-section of society to find their views on the matter. One Joseph Okiya, who is a Civil Servant in Asaba, Delta State, hailed the action of the Women Council, saying that it is a bold step by women in the area to help cleanse the area, which needs to be emulated by other women in other local government areas.
He said that society is fast losing values and norms and that women need to be called to order, otherwise the moral conscience of society is almost dead. He said that the women are all over the place talking about equality with men and not talking about their roles in society, which they have abandoned, just as he urged other women in various communities to spread the campaign to their various areas, for it to sink in the minds of the people.
A lady, who is based in Lagos but on a visit to Asaba, Eunice Okonji, also spoke her mind on the issue of indecent culture. She said that the moral decadence in society is on both sides of men and women, but that the women have thrown their consciences away from womanhood, saying, “Do you know that women have removed whatever the African culture left for them? Today, the men are shier than the women”
She said that in many Nigerian cultures, modesty and decency, which were highly valued and the mode of dressing of the African women, have been bastardised and the purity in women gone, even as she called on the parents to instil moral values in their children and serve as positive role models. She also called on community and religious leaders to promote moral values and address immorality through awareness campaigns and advocacy.
She said that indecency is on the increase in Nigeria, especially among youths and women, due to various factors such as the influence of Western culture, social media, peer pressure, poor parenting, and rapidly fading traditional values.
She noted that preserving culture and promoting moral discipline are essential for Nigeria as cultural identity enhances community values, beliefs and practices and urged the Ughelli women’s association to keep it up.
Although people’s perception of indecency in society varies, generally it is viewed as a negative behaviour that reflects poorly on an individual and their values. In Nigeria, indecent dressing is often associated with bad behaviour. Also included are moral decadence, western influence, loss of respect, and cultural breakdown.
This is why they have to be removed from our various communities. We commend the Ughelli community for the good job they are doing. The earlier the women are checked, the better for the entire Nigerian community.
