Keeping hope alive
AFTER THE ELECTION
AMBASSADORS from several African countries will attend a local election post mortem with a difference in Drogheda this week.
Yinka Dixon, the first Nigerian woman to seek a seat on Drogheda Borough Council, is hosting a post election get together for the 19 African candidates around the country who stood in the last local elections.
'It's called keeping hope alive. We want to empower people and encourage Africans to keep up their involvement with the community,' said Yinka.
A Green Party election hopeful Yinka has invited the South African and Nigerian ambassadors to the event in the Boyne Business Park on Friday evening.
Unsuccessful this time Yinka polled 456 votes, a respectable performance for a first time candidate
In every election there are winners and losers and Yinka wants to encourage her fellow immigrant candidates not to put their 'election success or lack of it down to race.'
'I was there when Linda Bell Woods didn't get elected. She is a native of this town with a strong family tradition in politics.
'There is a bigger picture here and it is not all about race,' said Yinka.
' We want to foster hope and to encourage people not to give up,' she added.
Among those expected at Friday's event is Rotimi Adebri, the Nigerian former mayor of Portlaoise.
'Rotimi kept his council seat and won a seat on the town council,' Yinka pointed out.
Other candidates like Benidicta Attoh who contested Louth Council for Fine Gael, South African Patrick Maphoso who sought a seat on Dublin City Council, and Zimbabwe's Tendai Madondo who stood in Tallaght South will also be along.
'We have also invited organisations like the Emigrant Council of Ireland, Mayor Michael O'Dowd and the successful local candidates who are now councillors,' said Yinka.
- Angela MCCORMICK
