Womanifesto, the coalition of more than 300 women groups, has called for an immediate boycott of Erisco products. It is also demanding the immediate release of Chioma Okoli whilst asking government to intervene.
In a statement signed by the Convener of the Purple Woman Foundation, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf, the coalition “called on all Nigerian women to join us to boycott Erisco products with immediate effect, for the continued harassment & detention of Chioma Okoli.
“The insufferable stress & trauma that has been inflicted on Chioma Okoli since September 2023 to date, which has also led to the loss of her pregnancy, Loss of earnings and livelihood due to her inability to work and provide for her family as a direct consequence of the ongoing persecution and psychological molestation.”
It praised Okoli’s courage and tenacity in the face of threats and intimidation and voiced serious concerns about her ability to obtain justice in a country beset with a compromised judicial system.
“The apparent risk and threat to her life and flagrant abuse of her human rights, For being subjected to constant litigation for exercising her “freedom of speech and expression, including the freedom to hold opinions, and to receive and impart information without interference as granted to her under section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution”. It added
“We will continue to support her quest for justice. It is noteworthy that in other countries where the health and nutritional well-being of the citizens are paramount, relevant government agencies would be at the forefront of the investigations into all Erisco products and the corresponding labels.
It stressed that no citizen should be subjected to the harassment Ms Okoli is being put through and called for the government to intervene.
“No market can exist without buyers. Therefore, no consumer should be subjected to persecution, mental and psychological abuse or intimidation for writing a review about any product purchased in good faith with their money” the statement read.