The
Nigerian Women in Clergy, NWC, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be
the Messiah Nigerians have long waited for and ensure that women interest
becomes one of the major considerations of his administration.
The Clergy women who are known for championing different courses
spoke to the press on the occasion of the 55th Independence Anniversary in
Abuja.
Addressing
the media, the group’s President, Prophetess Nonnie Roberson expressed hope
that President Buhari will not let Nigerian women and the youth down. She said,
” Nigerians voted for him, the women voted for him and our youths sacrificed so
much for him. He will definitely not be the one that will take us backward. We
are optimistic he is the change agent. Let him prove to us that he is the
Messiah.”
Responding to the question on whether Nigeria has made progress
since its independence in 1960, Nonnie said not much had been achieved. She
decried the level of hunger and unemployment in the land, affirming that such
were the reasons for the prediction that Nigeria would break up in 2015. She
said God was almost proving the prediction wrong, considering his love for the
country.
Nonnie said, ” In the words of Sunny Okosun, ‘which way
Nigeria?’. At 55, we appear to be where we have been. There is hunger in the
land, youths are roaming the streets aimlessly, and insecurity has become a
major challenge. People are dying out of frustration. Some can’t afford to pay
their children’s school fees. Victims of insurgents are left to cater for
themselves; they have been dumped at the IDPs camps scattered across the
county. No food, no water and no medical facilities. An average house in Abuja
costs N2M. How do you expect a man who battles to feed his family to cough out
such money? Many people sleep under trees and bridges, while some of our
politicians have warehouses of dollars and naira. So like I said, which way
Nigeria? We thought we would have gone beyond this level by now,” Nonnie said.
The clergy woman further advised President Buhari not to leave
any stone unturned in his fight against corruption, urging him to address other
numerous problems of the country even as he goes about fighting corruption. She
said, ” We urge our President to also try to address other challenges
militating against the country even as he goes about tackling corruption. As
for now, all we need to do is to support his government so we can collectively
create jobs, provide shelter, suppress insurgencies and take proper care of the
IDPs.”
Speaking on the place of women in Buhari’s government, Nonnie
said she was optimistic that the 35 percent affirmative action would be
maintained. She said Jonathan’s government maintained the affirmative action,
and there was high inclusion and participation of women in his government. ”We
strongly hope that Buhari, being a listening and caring President will not let
us down. It will definitely not be during his government that women will cry of
marginalization of any form. We believe in him. For now, we urge all women to
support him and watch his actions towards us. We will smile if he makes us to
smile and bark when we ought to bark, but for now, we will be on the watch
out.”
Speaking on the way forward for the country, the prophetess
expressed hope that there ”will be light at the end of the tunnel.” She
believes that Buhari’s victory was divinely willed, hoping that God heard the
cry of his people, especially the Nigerian women who are the mothers of the
country. ” At this year’s anniversary, we are hoping that our story will soon
change and we will soon take our leadership role in Africa. I assure the
President that as mothers, we are praying for him to succeed, but we will not
keep quiet if he fails to live up our expectation. The mantra of change must be
put to use. We must all believe in this change, including Mr. President and his
cabinet members. We hope they listen to us as caring mothers. God bless you,”
the activist said.
She advised other women group agitating for one thing or the
other to give the government a chance as she believes the President will in no
long time address whatever be their grievances. On behalf of the women, she
prayed for the country and President Buhari, hoping that God will use him as an
instrument of change.
By AYO
ONIKOYI
